Those who want respect, give respect. Anthony Soprano
It’s been said that children are the perfect negotiators. They can ask for something without getting embarrassed, they often read us better than we read ourselves and they don’t give up. Just imagine if they carried a lead pipe and a piece.
Adults, however, are often at a disadvantage because they have learned there can be consequences to their desires. It’s what James Baldwin called the price of the ticket. It’s also part of what St. Teresa of Avila meant when she cautioned that more tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered prayers. It turns out there’s no money for nothin’ and the checks aren’t free.
Mr. Soprano, a waste management executive from New Jersey, reminds us that when we want respect we have to be prepared to pay in kind. Think of it as a sort of social and spiritual vigorish we pay on every bet we make.
Wiseguy Wisdom is a guide to personal growth based on books, movies and government tapes.
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