My Girlfriend Died of Leukemia...Honesty IS the Best Policy

Like many college football fans, I came to respect and appreciate the role model and character that Manti Te'o exemplified.  I came to admire a young man who showed leadership and lived by principles.  He fought through adversity and came in second place in the vote for the equivalent to the college football MVP.  Then the nation was shocked to find out that he really didn't have a girlfriend who died of leukemia.  This news broke on the same day that Lance Armstrong went on Oprah to admit after many years of lying, that he cheated to win his 7 Tour de France titles.

The tragedy is that in both situations the deception began as a little white lie and was perpetuated until it became the enormous scar that it has.  Now none of us is perfect (I certainly have made enough mistakes), but as we strive to create the best version of ourselves, we should remember that deception in the smallest of forms can snowball into something that can destroy our character.  Practice living a principle driven life by making it your policy to represent the truth in all that you do.

Best wishes to the above mentioned.  I don't know all of their circumstances, nor do I judge them.  My hope is that they may find the peace that this simple, yet powerful principle brings when made a part of who they are.
Written By:  Tim Andrus