You Are Not Alone
Our purpose is to help people of all ages navigate life. As a mother and son team, Debbie and Greg come together to talk about the realities and struggles all of us face in today’s world. They cover a wide array of topics from mental health to current events to teaching on topics that help us do life. As Christians, they know there is one thing that brings peace, hope, and encouragement to anything life throws at us, and that is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Come along on the ride to learn what this means and how to get it. Your heart and life will be changed forever!
You Are Not Alone
The Power and Importance of Integrity
What if the very fabric of our society hinges on one simple, yet profound, concept: Integrity? Brace yourselves for a breathtaking exploration into the essence of this indispensable virtue, as we dissect its relevance in our personal lives, and startlingly, its recent testing in the White House itself. The shocking discovery of cocaine within this esteemed institution prompts a serious inquiry into the moral fiber of those residing and safeguarding it. We grapple with the concept of integrity - akin to a moral compass guiding us towards a life imbued with purpose and meaning.
Bare witness as we navigate the tragic waters of a double murder case spurred by a drunk driving incident, a poignant reminder of the grave societal ramifications of actions devoid of integrity. Trust us when we say integrity is not just for leaders but crucial in our relationships, underlining the dire consequences when it's glaringly absent. Together we'll dissect our personal anecdotes, emphasizing the destructive aftermath of compromised integrity. So join us as we embrace the fortitude of integrity, exploring its pivotal role in shaping our moral compass and reframing our societal norms.
Hello and welcome to another episode of the you Are Not Alone podcast. My name is Debbie Gold and I'm here with my co-host and son, greg. We are so glad that you're here with us. Each week on the show we will talk about informative issues, issues that will make you think and help you grow. It is our wish that you will find hope, encouragement and a little visit Jesus in every episode. Welcome to our show today. Today, greg and I decided we were going to talk about integrity and this sort of came about because back before the Fourth of July weekend, on national news it was reported that cocaine was found in the White House. And it was sort of a shock and it's pretty big discovery. Yes, that kind of a substance would have gotten through security at the most important home in our country, where the most important leader of our country lives. And so they found the cocaine. It was reported that it was in the library at the White House. And then time goes on and she's like, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:News reports come out News reports come out, yeah, and the FBI gets involved, secret Service as well. And then we're told that it was found in the West Wing lobby. Now this is where the tourists come through. They leave other personal belongings in their bags and their phones and stuff like that. And cubbies or lockers, I'm not sure. One of the two Probably lockers. And so yeah, probably, and there are guards right there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, cameras and stuff.
Speaker 1:And cameras. Yeah, so there was that. Well then, later it comes out.
Speaker 2:It was found in like a third location.
Speaker 1:It was found in the third location, which is the situation near the situation room. Yeah, which that's the West entrance of the White House, and it was found in a cubby there, locker number 50. And apparently the key is still missing. Well, no one's going to go claim that, yeah, and turn their key in. So, the West Wing, the West Executive Entrance, this is where you know the high exec, high officials, yeah, they come through that entrance.
Speaker 2:All the important people yeah.
Speaker 1:And, like leaders, are important people that are invited to come to the White House for meetings. That's where they would come in. That's where you see all the big cars and all.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So now that's where that was the last reported location of it, and then the FBI reports that they couldn't find any fingerprints on it.
Speaker 2:No DNA trays, yeah, no camera surveillance.
Speaker 1:So you got to wonder like really, yeah, how, how is that even possible In?
Speaker 2:the most secured building in the US. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, and how is that that they can't find fingerprints or DNA evidence on something in today's times?
Speaker 2:Yeah, in 2023 with cameras and digital technology and all that fingerprinting technology we have and all that. It's ridiculous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so basically you know.
Speaker 2:What do we believe and what do we not believe?
Speaker 1:Right, and I find it hard to believe that there was nothing to be found. There was no evidence, yeah, so how did that baggy get there? Who did this belong to and who are they covering up?
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:But it makes you wonder, just that.
Speaker 2:Where is the integrity?
Speaker 1:Where is the integrity in the White House? Where is the integrity with the FBI? Where is the integrity with Secret Service? They were all involved.
Speaker 2:They all know the real answer.
Speaker 1:And you know it's not allowed to have any kind of substance.
Speaker 2:It's marijuana. It's on federal property.
Speaker 1:It's federal property and it's not allowed to have any drugs on federal property. And then it also came out during the same time.
Speaker 2:There was weed found on the property. There was weed found, yes, on the property.
Speaker 1:On the property twice, not once. Twice, yeah, twice in the past, so a lot of things that they're hiding. They're saying that the American people are Eaters know Should well, we should be informed and told the truth.
Speaker 2:Because if they're breaking the laws, you know that's not right, that they're putting people in jail for the same thing that they're doing.
Speaker 1:You know Good point.
Speaker 2:It's hypocritical and it's wrong.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what are they modeling to people too?
Speaker 2:They're teaching people it's okay to lie, and Shove it under the rug, hide it, you don't need to speak the truth. Yeah, yeah, it's okay. No integrity there at all, so it's disappointing.
Speaker 1:It's very disappointing. So I thought that was really interesting and I wanted to talk about that because I'm not sure how many young people actually listen to national news, but I thought that was pretty telling right there. So let's talk about the definition, greg, of integrity, and I know in my heart what integrity means, but I wanted to get an actual definition from the dictionary. So it's the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, like moral uprightness, basically. And then that takes me to what is the definition of moral, and that is the belief concerning what is and what is not acceptable. So what? Basically what is right and what is wrong?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know like being honest, treating others with respect, helping those in need, hearing to laws and social norms, being true to yourself. Right.
Speaker 2:Things like that yeah.
Speaker 1:So basically, we have integrity. Underneath that, we have morals and deciding what is right and what is wrong. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:And I think, a person. I found this on a website called Fingerprint for Success. I don't know. I like it because it's a pretty informative article too, and it says that a person with high integrity is more likely to feel content in life, since they know what their values and priorities are and they're not afraid to take action to pursue them. So because it's important for a lot of reasons, because it shows you strength, character and it can lead you to have a more meaningful life.
Speaker 1:When you have integrity.
Speaker 2:You're committed to doing the right thing no matter what. So it's important because you know, even when nobody's looking, you still do the right thing.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And it's the little moments like those that count a lot to your, you know, personal character and development as a person.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think it's good to really sit down and contemplate and think about what are those things that are important to you. And you know what, if somebody gave you too much change back at the store, would you pocket that? And you realize that would you pocket that or just act like yeah well, it's not going to hurt anybody.
Speaker 2:It's just the store, Would you do? Okay, you gave me too much money.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's just a little example.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So what are some of the benefits of being a person of integrity?
Speaker 2:I mean, you know your values better, you know?
Speaker 1:who you are.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know your character. Yeah, you know what type of people you want to be around to your friends, like YouTube, because they can trust you. They know that you have integrity. You don't let others influence you easily and you stick to your ethical principles.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and that can be hard. Sometimes you can be in those situations where it's like, oh, I don't want to, you know them to not invite me again, or you know you've got to be really, it's got to be strong.
Speaker 2:Yeah, true.
Speaker 1:And know yourself well enough to know that I will not feel good about myself if I let this happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it's like one of the principles of integrity, like honesty. That's such a big thing too. I can go such a long way too, especially with like friends. Like if you're not honest with them, you know it can cause mess ups and hiccups, and the friendship and the relationships yeah. And I don't think a lot of people are honestly honest nowadays. I mean, look at what just happened in the White House.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I guarantee you that that was not honest completely. A lot of the stuff coming out on the news, left or right, you know either way, not a lot of integrity there on both sides, and just like all the nobody's getting you know, there's no accountability really anymore for anything, so Mm-hmm. And it's just with all the looting and the social craziness going on too, so it's really crazy.
Speaker 1:Right, it's the. You know the killings, just in some of our large cities, and not even in all large cities, it can happen anywhere but the looting and the. There's not consequences for people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I saw there was a YouTube video, like a body cam video, of a sheriff officer arresting somebody and it was like a double murder or something. And they got it was a drunk driving accident, double murder, mm-hmm. And the lady, she was a college student and she said when can I go back to school to get my car the next day? And the sheriff was like yeah, I don't think you understand this. Your car is total. You're going to jail for vehicular homicide. You killed two people tonight. He's like. She's like when can I get my car? Like the day after. And he's like did you just hear what I said? Like just no accountability for anything.
Speaker 1:She just thought she was going to go get her car.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she yeah, two people's lives are gone and she was just when can I get my car and the? Sheriff was like it is Philippe.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Do you not just hear what I said? Yeah, and it was mind blowing to me. Oh, she got 14 years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 14 years. Two people's lives are 14 years only. Yeah, well.
Speaker 2:No accountability. Yeah, we're just letting people like that back out. It's tough, but what can you do? So, it's better for you know individuals to have better you know integrity and integrity and better societal norms than what's going on right now.
Speaker 1:We need, we need leaders. Leaders. We need everyone in this, this world, to start thinking about these things. But yeah, but I mean, if you have integrity, greg, I think you. I think people see you, yeah, but people see you as someone that's reputable. You have a good reputation. People turn to you for help, for guidance, for whatever, because they know they can trust you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like straight edged, like you're not like two sided, you know you're real with people you're down to earth with people. They can trust you with that.
Speaker 1:And I think also that builds confidence too, when you feel like you know people come to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:You feel better about yourself.
Speaker 2:It's like whoa, I'm trusting you know people are giving you, you know, information that might be personal or stuff like that. If they come to you for advice, they might look up to you. If you see it that way, Right.
Speaker 1:So, and that kind of goes to my next point is you'll have better relationships or good relationships?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:People come to you and they know they can trust you. You've got, you're building a relationship.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you can help people out with that.
Speaker 1:I also think that you could be a good role model for people, unlike what's happening, you know, in a higher level of government. I just I couldn't really say that our president is a person of great integrity with this one given situation in particular. So what do you think? Lack of integrity? How does that affect our society? How does that affect people, relationships, all of that? Any thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:I mean, being dishonest is such a, you know, relationship killer. Hiding things from people, I mean that can ruin, you know, relationships like friendships and romantic relationships all together too. Just lying about things, hiding different things, like that it can, just it can become a nasty road. I think Not telling the entire truth is, you know, one of the things too. But with society it's, oh, it's tough because there's so many different things of integrity that you see in society. You know it's hard to almost listen. What do you think?
Speaker 1:Well, one of the things I feel like is a consequence of lack of integrity. So, you know, you see looting going on. Well, all of a sudden someone's going to go oh my God, they can get away with that. Or you know, the rule is I can steal up to $999 or whatever it is, and not have any consequences. So it's the opposite You're being a model in a bad way for other people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, influencing people negative In a negative way, yeah, and so it's true. But it goes both ways. When you're being a person of integrity, you're going to model people that, and when you're not, you're modeling that negative behavior, you know. So what do we want? I try to live I'm sorry, my throat is sore today I try to live my life with integrity and I feel that's worked out pretty well for me, and I don't know that I was always that way. I do little things, nothing major, but you know, maybe I would keep that extra change, or you know just smaller things, but when it all comes to the end of the day and it all adds up, those are the things that will help you be a better person, even those little things, changing your behavior on those. And so I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think of the words I would attach to a person that has, you know, lack of integrity or doesn't live his or her life with integrity. I would say they're dishonest.
Speaker 2:I would see them as dishonest, not trustworthy.
Speaker 1:Not trustworthy yeah.
Speaker 2:Lack of accountability.
Speaker 1:Disrespectful, I think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. I mean, all those things goes under disrespectful.
Speaker 1:Unreliable. It wouldn't be someone I'd go to and go. You know I wouldn't open my heart to or I wouldn't. I wouldn't feel like I'd trust that person.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So yeah, what about, I think, can you think of more? I think, putting some more examples out there More examples?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 1:And we talked about, like stealing and the attacks on the streets.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, that's just so. It's getting so common nowadays and it's really scary because also social media kids and younger people can see that online and you know, oh, they're doing that and getting away with it. I can do that too.
Speaker 1:That's true.
Speaker 2:Just such a negative. I've seen so many videos of like France riots and stuff like that. They're stealing buses. These kids are out here stealing buses and filming it on social media filming it and then going off Like they're proud of it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like, look what we're doing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I mean, there's really nobody there to stop them. There's no accountability for any of the things they're doing. At the end of the day, they're probably just going to go home. Their mom's going to cook them dinner, they're going to watch TV and go. You know, go home. No, no consequences for stealing. You know private property or you know actual vehicle. It's crazy and it's the reason that there's no fear of like getting caught is why they're doing it, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because if they find out they go to federal prison for stealing a van. I guarantee you those kids wouldn't be doing it. No, I totally agree, but because all the other cops are on the other side of France dealing with fires and actual, you know, knife attacks. These kids can, you know, just do whatever they want.
Speaker 1:Or it can be lack of police police not even enforcement, but police. But remember they're not there anymore because at one point it was defund the police. Let's get all the police away.
Speaker 2:Take it away. Yeah, it's such a difficult topic now.
Speaker 1:It is. It's very. I just feel like we need to get back on track with having some law and order to manage some of the issues that are going on. Yes, we've always had these issues in society, but not to the extreme that they are today.
Speaker 2:California and other states are looking like third world countries. I mean, the drug epidemic is getting worse. You know, with all the fentanyl and stuff it's getting out of hand.
Speaker 1:Right, and so we're talking kind of like big societal issues here. But there's also little things, like you know lying to your parents or cheating on an exam or lying to your spouse. So you know, these things happen in our homes. They can every single day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, big or small they happen. So, but that's what you just got to make sure to keep your integrity.
Speaker 1:It's hard to do, but Well and I think sometimes people don't know well what kind of actions does that really apply to Like, give me some examples or something. So at the end of this we are going to Well, not at the end of the podcast, but after the podcast is released and dropped. There will be on our Instagram and I'll tell you about this later, but it's going to be a post.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a self-assessment of your morals. Oh, yeah, yeah. And so you can go through the list and say, oh, I think I need work in this area, oh, maybe in this area, and then you can start looking for those situations in your life and making it a conscious effort and decision to do it differently. Yeah, so I think that'll be helpful for people I know in the Bible it talks about integrity and honesty, and I looked up a couple verses in Proverbs, chapter 12, verse 22,. It says the Lord detests lying lips but delights in those who tell the truth. And I can't tell you I get so excited when I hear if I do something the Lord delights in that that just makes me feel like I'm such a yeah, it makes you feel good, I'm doing it for God.
Speaker 1:It makes me feel good, like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, because the Bible, the Word, is how I should be living my life and I'm doing what I need to do too. Yeah, what else is there here? I got a couple of scriptures written down, first Corinthians yeah, bad company corrupts good character. Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 2:You always told me watch who you are.
Speaker 1:Watch who you hang out with. Show me your friends and I'll show you your future.
Speaker 2:That's it, yeah.
Speaker 1:So let's see what else is there. Galatians, chapter 5, verse 16, says let the Holy Spirit guide your lives, Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. So yeah, we are sinners. There's Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden. So by that nature we're going to be sinners. But that doesn't give us an excuse not to always try to be better.
Speaker 2:Always try to live by God. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Live by God and repent our sins. What else, anything else that you want to discuss? I'm keeping a bit of a watch on the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, I don't know. I mean we cover a lot, so we covered, you know, big and small societal attributes of integrity. Um, I don't know, do you have anything else you think you want to talk about?
Speaker 1:No, I'm just thinking of some other little examples when, um, when, I've been out of integrity and versus being in integrity. So I remember one time I was pulling up to get it, or I was trying to get a parking install at the grocery store and, um, I was by myself, I didn't have new boys with me at the time and you know how they have those parking signs that say, um, parking for adults with children or something like that you know specials kind of upfront you know closer to the doors.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I I was in a hurry and I didn't, you know, I was like I rationalized it by saying I have children, they're just not with me Parking for people with children or something. I forget what it says. Yeah, and so I pull into this parking lot and there was a little girl in her mom, mom getting this little girl out of the car as I'm pulling in and I'm coming in pretty fast, I know, and I scared that little girl so bad, like it just might being quick you know, scared her.
Speaker 1:And I felt so horrible, like I will never, ever park in one of those spots again. I don't care who. I have my car. I probably have my grandkids in my car when you guys have kids and I'll be like, oh no, that's okay, I'm walking.
Speaker 2:Yeah, don't go near there. I'm not doing that again.
Speaker 1:It's just like, yeah, it really, it really stuck with me, yeah, and I thought you know I did the wrong thing and there was a consequence of that and I I scared this little girl Felt really bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you felt guilty about it. I did.
Speaker 1:And I think that's another thing we feel guilty. You know, when we do the right thing, we have a sense of peace in our lives. When we start going down that path of being dishonest or whatever it is, there's guilt under that, yeah, and you have to live with that.
Speaker 2:And it's not a good feeling.
Speaker 1:No, by no means Anyway. I just wanted to share that. I thought it was kind of a fun little story.
Speaker 2:No, it was for sure.
Speaker 1:And it definitely taught me a lesson.
Speaker 2:So that was before me and Chase.
Speaker 1:No, you guys were here oh okay. I just didn't have you with it. Maybe it was just you, I can't remember.
Speaker 2:So you technically weren't lying, because I think it was before me.
Speaker 1:No, no, I had children. That's how I rationalized it but they just weren't in my car at the time, right, right yeah.
Speaker 2:So it was to me, mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:You're crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Anyway, and I'm much more happy being a person of integrity. I am more so today in my life than I've ever been and I just feel good about myself. I feel that people trust me, I feel people come to me with things and you don't have that guilt on your back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I feel like my life is more peaceful.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And I'll have to live in shame for things that I do. And yeah, it's a good place to be in my experience, okay, so anything else, greg, that we want to talk about?
Speaker 2:I don't think so.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right. Well, I guess that will be our show for today, and I want everyone to go to our Instagram page and that is there you will find a link to the landing page for that free, moral self assessment that Greg and I created for you all to start taking a look at who you are and where you might want to change certain or what you might want to change in your life. And the Instagram page is you just the letter? You are just a letter R, and then not alone underscore podcast. So it's letter you letter R, not alone underscore podcast.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you all for listening today. We appreciate you. We hope you enjoyed the show and that it was helpful, and if you like what we had to say, go ahead and hit the subscribe, thank you. And Greg just took my notes away.
Speaker 2:Subscribe button. Give us a follow. Like a website, listen to our podcast Music podcast. We're almost everywhere by now.
Speaker 1:Anyway, can tell we love what we do. We were laughing so hard we had to start over about seven times, seven, six times. Yeah, it was fun. Anyway, all right, we appreciate you guys and thank you, jesus, for this episode and remember you are not alone.