There's a funny story that's been attributed to various historical figures over the years and it goes something like this:

A man asks a woman "would you sleep with me for [enormous sum of money]?" The woman replies in the affirmative. Next, the man asks the woman "Would you sleep with me for [pitiful sum of money]?" To which the woman replies sharply "What kind of woman do you think I am?!" Calmly the man responds "My dear lady, we've already established what kind of woman you are, now we're just haggling over the price."

The Quote Investigator site has an article that explores the various permutations and instances of this story - check it out when you can.

I've always enjoyed this story and it drives home a valuable point: how you present yourself, and interact with people will always affect how people regard you. I'm also reminded of two other quotes:

(1) Once is a mistake, twice is a choice.

(2) I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.

Like it or not everything you say, everything you wear, and everything you do shapes your reputation and your personality. It's incredibly important to vet the men we choose to become romantically involved with - but it's also important that we take the time to vet ourselves.

It's easy to explain away mishaps and mistakes when we look back on our past from our own perspective. After all, we know our thoughts, and every minute detail that weaved together and influenced our decisions. But how often do you review your past from a stranger's point of view? Take away all the silent thoughts that only you are privy to, and instead go through the events using only the obvious and apparent facts.

Reading your personal history from an outsider's point of view, might be a useful tool for anyone that struggles to tame their emotionally driven thoughts, or for anyone that doubts they have a hamster at all.

I'm going to challenge myself to examine my conduct from 'the bleachers' in the coming weeks, to see if I notice any differences between how I personally evaluate my behavior, and how others are likely to perceive it.

Are there other quotes or stories that remind you to take stock of your actions and motivate you to be accountable for the things that you do?