Do you have a responsibility to be a role model?

Haven’t we all seen a child mimic their parents or older siblings? Children seem especially eager to emulate those who are older than they.

Many of us have a child in our lives. Maybe it is our own children, other relatives or a neighbor. It could just be a child who sees us out in our community.

The point is that we are all a role model to someone – whether we know it or not. If we remember that others may be learning from our behavior – will that make us strive to be our best selves?

What do you think? Do you have a responsibility to the children in your community to be a good example?

“I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court.” – Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns, 1993 Nike Commercial

“Charles, you can deny being a role model all you want but I don’t think it is your decision to make. We don’t choose to be role models. We are chosen. Our only choice is whether to be a good one or a bad one.” -Karl “The Mailman” Malone, Utah Jazz, 1993