Sometimes I wish I didn’t have them, but mostly I am glad.
My morals are the guiding structure of my life they are what keeps me from lashing out at people and making mistakes that would destroy the life I’ve built.
They say that Locks keep honest people honest. I think morals are that way too. I’ve seen instances where I could steal or lie or create havoc but I don’t act on those observations. For example, I’ve seen women step away from their shopping carts with their purses sitting open in the basket. It would be easy to steal the purse or their wallet, but I don’t. I’ve been to events where a little lie could have gotten me in for free but I tell them the truth and I pay my way.
When I was a kid, we had to break into a pick up that belonged to my dad’s friend. He had locked his keys in the cab and had no way of getting into it. I was the smallest person available so they popped the clasp on the rear window and sent me through the tiny space so I could unlock the door. I’ve done similar things when someone has locked themselves out of their house or their dog has locked the car door with the keys inside. Yes, I’m technically breaking and entering but it’s for a good cause and not for nefarious reasons.
Sometimes the ability to see how to be dishonest without actually being dishonest has helped my to keep my family safe and often improved safety conditions at places that I have worked. And honestly it comes with being a writer. Seeing how to do damage or how to go about sneaking in somewhere adds to the storytelling side of life.
I could be rich. I could be nasty.
But I am moral.
I do no harm and Karma will not get me. Maybe just maybe along the way I will help more than I hinder by following my moral compass.
adriana pridemore 
This reminds me of a story I remember hearing many years ago …
The captain of a ship was sailing on a foggy night when he saw an approaching light in the distance. He called out over his radio, “To the vessel starboard at 10 degrees, please turn to the right.” Coming back over the intercom was a voice from the source of that approaching light, “Unable to comply, please turn your vessel 20 degrees to the left.” With his hackles rising, the captain of the ship replied and angry and pretentious tone, “How dare you challenge my authority, this is the captain of the might battleship Missouri. Turn at once and obey my command! Who do you think you are?” The simple response back from the light source was, “Sir, this is the lighthouse.”
Principles and morals are like that, unchanging, steady, and resolute. Whether we choose to align our actions with them or against them has their own unique set of consequences. Usually, one of those choices works out better than the other 😉
Thanks for sharing!
A beautiful, honest self appraisal and as your mum-in-law I can vouch for all you said as being absolutely true xx