‘I’m just doing what I’ve been told to do.’

‘That’s above my pay grade mate.’

These are the excuses and other countless versions of them that I’ve heard over the past year from grown men working for Network Rail. They have been in response to me asking them to clean up the rubbish they threw on our property or to erect a fence to stop our kids from falling in. Or when I ask why they didn’t talk to us before cutting trees down on our property.

In all our lives, there are decisions we don’t get to make and things we are told to do. However, we often forget that there are always decisions we do make. Regardless of the situation, we can be kind, courteous, respectful, and treat others as we want to be treated. Even when you disagree. Or are ‘just doing my job’.

Seems basic and yet we all need to be reminded of the basics. Daily.

The choice is up to us.

Photo by Ed Robertson