Simply think before you do

Just Thinking

By Earlene Ward

(Updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 6:53 PM)

Just thinking
...about our actions.

I wonder how often we stop to think about how our actions may impact other people.

I don't give much, if any, thought until it happens to me. It is interesting how what one person does, or doesn't do, can have a ripple effect on many other people.

The impacts can be good and not so good. Sometimes a person's actions can set really good things in motion and many people can benefit in a positive way.

Other times, actions can start a chain of events that may not be good for other people.

Sometimes the inaction on the part of people causes others to have to do much more work than they should have to do.

When someone is being depended on to do a certain thing, and they don't do it, other people have to step in and try to fill the gap; that's often very difficult and it's not fair to those who have to do someone else's work.

I remember as a student, we always worked alone. There were no team projects. Now, team work is often stressed in schools and there are assignments that require several people.

It is not uncommon to hear students complain because someone doesn't do their share and others have to carry their load.

They will find this to be true no matter where they go; there will always be those who do more than their share and those who do less.

If we all stopped to think about what we are doing, and how it might impact other people, perhaps we would be careful about what we do.