I wouldn’t blame you if you lost your faith in humanity. After all, there have been and are still plenty of people who simply can’t do right. Some of the things that people do are just hard to understand and at times comprehend. It doesn’t matter their gender, age, creed, or even position, people simply fail to do what is right. 

Just like the truth, the right thing will always be the right thing, and doing it will always be right. So often whenever we are presented with a chance to do the right thing, whatever it may be in the circumstances, we simply don’t. Actually, we do the opposite and, in the aftermath, justify our actions or lack thereof with whatever allows us to get away with our actions.

By not doing the right thing, you are cutting corners and while cutting corners might help your cause or help you get ahead, it can only get you so far and for so long. Ultimately, you end up worse than where you started. We have seen it with our athletes, politicians, businessman, and even in our own homes; it’s not a matter of if, but when.

It’s nice to hear or read stories about people doing the right thing, but it’s even more shocking and surprising to see it or experience it yourself. Doing the right thing is so rare nowadays that one genuinely gets surprised when it happens, especially if you are at the receiving end of such a deed. I bet you would even think you are being scammed or taken for a ride when you come across it.

Doing the right thing is not easy; it was supposed to be, but it’s not. But doing the right thing will always be the right thing to do. In whatever situation you find yourself in, before you can be told what is right and wrong, internally you already know what is right, you know it and you ought to not only let it guide you but actually follow through and do it.

What is the right thing? That depends on what context you find yourself in. But in your actions and decisions, keep in mind that you cannot be the jury and the executor at the same time. The consequences of your actions and decisions will decide if you did the right thing.

•Olavi Popyeinawa

• Twitter: @olavipopyeinawa

•Email: olavipopyeinawa@gmail.com