Several years ago, I was a member of the Rotary Club, where I was introduced to the Four-Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? This framework guided my words and actions and continues to shape how I communicate today. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to guide much of our public discourse. While everyone is entitled to an opinion, not every thought needs to be spoken aloud. It is worth remembering that opinions are just that—opinions.

Remember the saying, “If you don’t have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut.” What happened? Did we stop teaching that to our children? Have we somehow skipped the part about being kind and loving, especially to our neighbor? Please understand, I’m not against sharing thoughts and opinions. After all, I do it every day through videos and writing, but I’m trying, and hopefully succeeding, to do so with love and respect for others. I learned a long time ago that you can disagree with someone respectfully and still get along. Somewhere along the line, that seems to have been left behind.

Is there an answer? Can we turn things around? I believe we can, but it doesn’t start with others. It starts with us as individuals. Remember the golden rule: love your neighbor as yourself? That’s not for others to do; it’s for you and me. How? Sometimes the easiest way is simply to ask. In other words, ask, “If I were loving you, what would that look like?” I’ve practiced this with my wife, children, and grandchildren. I’ve even asked my neighbor, “If I were the best neighbor you could ever have, what would that look like?” Sound corny? Maybe it is, but I’m trying to show that they are important to me and that part of respect and honor is being a blessing in their lives. I also see it as mirroring what I would like to see from others. At the end of the day, the only world I can change is the one I live in every day of my life. Each of us is creating a ripple effect in the world around us. The question is, what kind of ripple are you causing? Think about it.