But It’s Just a Pen…
“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
- Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes, just prior to his son’s departure abroad (from Hamlet, Act I, scene iii, by William Shakespeare)
It’s just a little thing. A pen, very much like the one pictured here.
It’s not much to look at; doesn’t have much going for it. In fact, I picked it up the other day at a co-worker’s desk and inadvertently put it in my own pocket when I finished using it. No doubt you’ve done the same thing yourself. No biggie, right?
Except, I was on the phone this morning, and while talking, I idly picked it up to, well, doodle, and that’s when I saw it. I mean, really saw it for the first time. Right there, printed in bold letters are the words “Integrity Title” followed by a phone number.
Hmph.
So lemme get this straight. I’m holding, in my hot little hand, a (let’s call it what it is, shall we?) stolen pen with the word Integrity boldly printed on it!
Yeah, I know, I know; I can practically hear the chorus from here – “But it’s only a pen! One of zillions literally given away by everybody under the sun. Whoever you got it from won’t even miss it! Etc., etc., & etc.”
Yes, everything you say is true. I hear ya. Still… that word, Integrity, is staring right at me. I think… I think I’ll get up right now and take it back to the person I got it from. Hold on, I’ll be right back…
OK, I’m back. Whew. (Big sigh of relief, wipe the sweat off my brow.) Glad that’s over.
Integrity; that’s funny – even ironic, huh? Still, it makes you think, yes? I mean, integrity isn’t some big thing. It actually begins and ends with lots of little things. In fact, it sorta reminds me of a quote from Shakespeare; you know the one – something about being true to yourself. After all, gotta start somewhere, right?
OK, enough wool-gathering; can’t put it off any longer. Time to do my taxes. Now where did I put those forms…
5 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
And a pen, Bob, do you have a pen now to fill in those forms with…
integrity?
True post Bob, it all starts with those little things. Talking about integrity in order to ‘teach’ integrity, to let is spread, starts with being integer yourself – in all those small areas, like ’snatching’ just a pen from someone else.
Your integer when you realise integrity is in the small pens
Rats, I gave it back! Donate a pen for a good cause, anyone?
Yep, little things lead to big things – always!
It says a lot about your integrity that you would even notice & feel guilty about it when most people would’ve said, it’s just a pen.
Wow I just noticed that I put the wrong url in my last comment, I wish that was my website, but alas it is not
Sarakastic, no problem on the website thing – you’re good. Thanks for the kind remark. Funny how even a little thing got to me. I’m appreciative of it, too – keeps the “big ones” at bay!