What Is Integrity?

I have been alive on this earth for 25 years now, and I still have yet to grasp this virtue called integrity. The other night, I was thinking, in regard to integrity, about my work life. For those of you who do not know me, I am currently working at a hotel as a Front Desk Associate. My shift usually runs from 11pm to 7am. When I began to think about this scenario, I realized that 90% of my work shift is working alone with no manager present.

This observation humbled me and caused me to begin a process of analysis into my work life. I began to ask myself these questions. Would I do this if my manager was present? Would I say that if my manager was listening? These questions and observations led me to begin processing this idea of defining integrity.

Many people claim to live it

Some really think they do.

But when push comes to shove

Is this claim really true?

Integrity is hard to come by

Oftentimes we miss the mark.

It's such a vicious battle

Not just a walk in the park.

Also known as character

This virtue we have here.

What we say and what we do

When no one else is there.

It's what you decide to do

And if it remains the same.

When someone is a lookin'

Or if you're alone in the game.

Hiding nothing from plain sight

Life open for all to see.

When the test is given out

Who will we really be?

Doing the right thing always

Even when it is hard.

Who said life is easy-

It's how you play your cards.

Keeping nothing in question

Consistent at your core.

No evil or vain motives

Leave them at the door.

Trusting is what they say

When your name is given out.

No need to question a thing

Not even the slightest doubt.

This is not your reputation

What others think of you.

Really, this is not the case

Not even a little bit true.

Integrity is character

Who you really are.

Everything about you

It's like you are a star.

Star player in a game

Where the object is to find.

What really are your motives

Or are you oh so blind?

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters” ― Albert Einstein

“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”― Frederick Douglass

“But there are times in this harum-scarum world when figuring out the right thing to do is quite simple, but doing the right thing is simply impossible....”― Lemony Snicket (aka David Handler)