R-E-S-P-E-C-T: find out what it means to me

Yeah I am still thinking about respect. It seems it is a difficult subject for many people - I mean I hear all the time how the "young people have no respect."

So what exactly is respect?

respect
verb 1. think highly of, value, regard, honour, recognize, appreciate, admire, esteem, adore, revere, reverence, look up to, defer to, venerate, set store by, have a good or high opinion of
verb 2. show consideration for, regard, notice, honour, observe, heed, attend to, pay attention to

While I do not look in my business associations to receive respect as defined in the first sense, I do expect the second one. After all, while we all wish to be adored, it is unlikely anyone besides a sopouse or a pet will deliver that sort of "respect."

However, it seems reasonable to me to expect and give consideration. It can be as simple as letting colleagues know you are running out for a soda pop and offering to do a run for the whole office. You considered your colleagues, and those who are feeling pressed for time feel a pressure release valve has just been opened. And who knows, maybe next time you feel the heat someone will bring you a cold drink to help cool you off.

It could happen.


(Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006)