Integrity in All Things: Habits, Character, and a Flower Pot

During a walk, I noticed something unsettling. Two tall teenagers were heading my direction when I decided to speak up.

“Can I talk with you for a minute?”

They stopped and listened.

“I saw you knock over that flower pot back there and keep walking without picking it up.”

“Yeah… I thought about it,” one admitted.

“Mind if I share a quick life lesson?” I asked.

They shifted but nodded. I was prepared for pushback, but they were listening.

I didn’t mention her by name, but I shared a line from Martha Beck:

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

I talked about how keeping good habits is easier than breaking bad ones, and that taking care of small things builds the discipline to handle bigger things under pressure.

Then I brought up John Wooden’s words:

“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”

I admitted I need these reminders, too, like using my turn signal even with no cars around, or chasing down napkins that blow away at an outdoor cafe. Small choices shape our character.

I asked the boys what they were thinking.

“We’ll go fix it,” one said.

They turned back, righted the pot, and continued on.

When we passed again, I stopped them.

“How do you feel now?”

“Better,” said one.

“Good,” said the other.

“And you deserve to feel that way. Remember, your integrity is everything.”

They nodded and smiled as they walked on.

So did I, making the world a little better, one flower pot at a time.

Photo by Thorsten Frenzel on Pixabay.

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