The Value of Class

Lately I've been thinking a lot about class; class in the sense of courtesy, respectability, and decency.

Class, more than any other trait, is what I treasure most in a person.

  I don't necessarily mean "class" in some sort of elite, high society sense. What I mean to say is that I value thoughtfulness. Graciousness. Politeness. 

I value the sorts of people who are caring even when no one's watching, who are honest about their own faults, who speak up for themselves when it's relevant, while maintaining respect for the person they're speaking to. 

I value people who are loyal and genuine, who selflessly build up other's successes and then humbly, accept praise in return. Those who are compassionate and considerate, people who remember to call on birthdays and random days, too, just because you crossed their mind.

I value people who realize that some occasions call for something more than a text, something more than an e-mail. Who will send a song or a quote to somebody they care about because they just know that they'll appreciate it.

I value people who can admit their mistakes and I value people who learn from them.

I value those with the heart to forgive, with the guts to hold on, with the empathy to understand another person, or even the willingness to try.

And for the record, I'm not always the person I want to be; a person with consideration and dignity and, yes, class. Sometimes I fail. But I try to do my best. And I can hold the world to a higher standard, because I do think we have it in us. And I believe we deserve nothing less.

Today I believe...

That a cup of coffee (or two) can be great and all, but sometimes you just need to drink half the pot.

That a simple hello can sometimes, in some ways, be even harder than goodbye.

That Mat Kearney's song "Down" is still one of the most captivating songs I've ever heard… 

even after listening to it almost daily for three years.

That the hardest conversations can sometimes be the best ones.

That it's never too early to start listening to Christmas music or to order a Starbucks holiday drink.

That every once in a while, it's important to ditch all your plans and just do you.

That the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is one of the greatest gifts we have in this world. 

And that confidence comes most easily not from looking a certain way or knowing certain people or having certain things, but from pursuing that certain passion so fully that your days just seem to snap into place.