The Life Lessons I Learned From My Father
"What's not yours, it's not yours to keep—return it to the owner."

The $10,000 gold watch –  

I still remember it as if it were yesterday. When I was six or seven, my family attended a big, fancy wedding reception in an exceptionally large, private outdoor garden with a large group of wealthy guests.

While playing with the other children, I saw a sparking object among the fallen leaves. At first, I ignored it, thinking it was a drop of water glistering in the afternoon sunlight. But every time I looked, the sparks were brighter, as if they were winking at me. I walked over and saw a gold watch lying there. I picked it up and was mesmerized by all the twinkles. Excited, I quickly ran to my father and gave him the watch. Without hesitation, my father took my hand, walked over to the MC on the stage, handed him the watch, and told him the story.

Excitedly surprised, the MC turned and asked if anyone had lost their watch, inviting them to come up to the stage. Then he took my hand, brought me forward, and told the crowd that this young boy had found a gold watch and was very anxious to see the rightful owner. He praised me and my father's honesty. The crowd cheered and clapped for us as a middle-aged lady arrived on the stage to sheepishly claim her watch. She and her husband thanked us, congratulated my father for raising a good son, and gave me a five-dollar bill – a big tip for a child in those days.
I had never seen my father glow so proudly.

For the rest of the day, others congratulated me and handed me many single-dollar bills, which
I happily gave to my mother. I was so proud and happy, not for the money I received but for doing the right thing and making my father proud.

We were not among the wealthy guests. We were a relatively simple middle-class family invited by the groom. This physician was marrying the daughter of an exceptionally wealthy family and my father's friend from the office. The $10,000 gold watch, as it turned out to be worth, was a big chunk of money and could have bought us our own house in those days.

That watershed moment of my father setting the example and the reaction I received from my father and the crowd cemented the importance of decency, honesty, and a good reputation. It shaped who I am today and has served me well as a man.

Moreover, beyond the Ten Commandments, my father had a few rules he preached to and demanded from us. The most important one is, "Our good name and legacy are our best treasures—don't soil my good name." Another was, "What's not yours, it's not yours to keep—return it to the owner." And always, "Pay it forward—helping others is helping ourselves."
We all need others' help at some point in our lives!

Also, I have a sensitive and caring soul that takes joy in helping others better their lives, even if it's just extending a helping hand, as I believe in "paying it forward."

Rez

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