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

Respect is something I value deeply.

Growing up, my parents did a really good job in teaching me and my brother the concept and value of respect. They made sure that we know it well enough to practice it all the time.

Sadly, not everyone is familiar with the concept of respect and common courtesy which is, by the way, not really so common anymore.

I can not, for the life of me, comprehend why some people would actually treat people like dirt thru their words and actions,  when they are being treated and talked to decently? Is it really that big of a challenge for them to actually be pleasant and treat everyone with respect?

In my line of work, I encounter and deal with different people who have, needless to say, different personalities. As challenging as it may sometimes be, I make sure I practice and show respect to each and everyone I interact with. I really admire leaders and peers who are well-bred to show this kind of treatment.

But then again, there are those who value power over respect that the word 'respect' does not seem to exist in their vocabulary. Will yelling at people after being asked one simple question make you a better person, nay, a leader than anyone else in the company? Will it actually make them the owner of the company? In fact, a good and professional leader wouldn't act such especially when around peers, subordinates and team members, because they're supposed to be setting a good example for them. If these leaders can face clients and talk to them properly, then why the hell can't they do the same for the people they actually work with?

You see, respect is non-negotiable to me. It is something I really value and hold dear. I always make it a point to practice respect and common courtesy which is why it will never be justifiable to me  if I will be treated and talked to with such a disgustingly rude attitude. I believe that no one deserves this treatment. No matter how stressed you are with work, it is NEVER an excuse to mistreat people by being painfully arrogant.

It's really simple, it's common sense, everyone must be treated properly and equally.  Hence, common courtesy. But then again, as mentioned above, it is not common anymore.

To quote my good friend, Angela Thakur,  "Respect is like trust. You freely give it until the person proves they are worth it. Always give people the benefit of doubt"...and to add to that, i think respect is like trust in such a way that if it's destroyed, it is something you most probably will never ever be getting back.

The Pseudo Twins: Your Job and Your Relationship

I have always thought that my career or anyone's career for that matter is synonymous to a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Here's what I think...

Your job is just like your boyfriend or girlfriend. It's something you love doing (no pun intended) and something you are really passionate about. Sure it can be incredibly busy at times but at the end of the day, you should come home fulfilled that you were productive and that you're doing something you're really happy about.

Of course, it's not always smooth-sailing. Duh. Just like in any relationship where there are occasional bumps in the road, you encounter different challenges in your job from time to time. In both instances, you get through it and learn from the mistakes and move on.

Sometimes, though, when you get too comfortable in a relationship, you tend to set it aside thinking that you'll just solve it later. Same with your job, you get too comfortable or dependent and you put things off for later, and when it gets really really bad, it'll end up consuming you leaving you stressed, frustrated and depressed.

It could also be that you've been working too hard and have shown way too much effort but none of these efforts have been recognized nor appreciated.

In other cases, you can find yourself doing way more than you should because you simply do not have a choice. True it's inevitable that you sometimes you have to work beyond the scope of your work but there are times when it gets way too much already. To add insult to injury, aside from the fact that this extra effort has not been acknowledged, you don't even get a raise or promotion for it.

And the list goes on....

I believe the above scenarios are completely relatable to a relationship wherein one exhibits more effort than the other, and because the latter gets so used to the showering of attention and lovey dovey efforts, it becomes all to normal and fails to show gratitude and appreciate the efforts of the former.

However, in both scenarios for work and relationship, both parties have to work equally hard for a happy and harmonious run. That, of course, is common knowledge already. I believe that the scenarios mentioned above have to be dealt with right away and must not be put off for another day or later. If it keeps getting set aside, it will get worse and consume you leaving you stressed, frustrated and depressed. These can go on and on and before you know it, you're unhappy. You'll find yourself looking for other options while bargaining at the same time. You'll also come to a point wherein you'll ask yourself if it's still worth it and start asking your friends about it whether you should stay or leave.

In the end, it's either you settle and hoping everything will get better or leave for a job or relationship you deserve.