Respect is a way of treating or thinking about something or someone with high regard or admiration. You show respect by being polite and kind. Last week’s character word, tolerance, is a form of respect. When you show tolerance toward someone you are respecting them as an individual with feelings and ideas. You should always show adults respect. That means to listen to them when they tell you to do something, don’t interrupt them when they are talking, and treating them kindly and politely. Showing respect for someone will demonstrate your good manners (another character word!). And people that are respectful have a lot of integrity (see how these character words keep tying together?)
​Respect is showing kindness and consideration to those around you. It’s accepting other for who they are. And it is also liking yourself enough to be yourself with others. That last one is something called self-respect. Respecting others is important, but self-respect is equally important. What is self-respect? People so often spend their time caught up in the lives of people around them, being nosy, gossiping, being disrespectful, and directing their focus everywhere but on themselves. It is time for you to invest in yourself! Self-respect goes hand in hand with self-value; appreciating the positive aspects of your own personality and the unique attributes that you alone possess. Individuals who show respect for themselves typically show more sincere regard for the work and property of others.
Here are seven ways to show you are all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T:
R is for Recognizing that everyone is different
E is for Empathy to listen and connect
S is for Self-monitoring and thinking before you act
P is for Personal space and staying in your bubble
The other E is for Earning trust through your actions
C is for Cheering on others and Celebrating their successes
T is for Treating everyone like they are your equal
Here are six ways you can show respect every day:
     1. Use kind words and good manners
     2. Listen to what others have to say
     3. Follow the rules
     4. Appreciate differences among people
     5. Take care of other people's property at school, home, and in the community.
     6. Help others
Doing these six things will show people respect and care about them.
In the words of Gandhi:
“They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them.”