Many of you are familiar with Aristotle, a great philosopher in Ancient Greece and still considered one of the greatest philosophers in mankind. In his writings, Nicomachean Ethics, he wrote:
"Men become builders by building and lyre players by playing the lyre; so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts."
In essence, Aristotle says that we become what we want to be by doing the things of the person we want to be. For example, if one wants to cultivate the reputation of a trustworthy person, he or she must tell the truth. Want to be seen as approachable? Better practice being friendly. Want to be known as being brave? Then one needs to practice facing and overcoming one's fears.
Weekly we say a Scout Oath that gives our intent, to do our best, to do many things, to include living according to the Scout Law. That Scout Law is a collection of virtues that we strive for, but make no mistake – they are contrary to the natural human condition of error, of pride, of greed, of selfishness and of paralyzing self-preservation vice tending to the needs of others.
Consider what you want to be – what you want to be known for. Know that you must practice those traits with the same consciousness as you do when learning a new knot or taking up a new physical exercise. To be what you want to be, you must do those things associated with those virtues.
A Scout is.