Creating a personal code of conduct...

My incredibly brilliant friend Elizabeth recently wrote in her blog ~ http://ejohnsonandcompany.com/code-of-conduct-mine-is-pink/ ~ about one of her workshops and a topic that came up in discussion about our personal code of conduct. A participant had been inspired by the coverage of Tim Russert's death and the kind words people had shared and wanted to discuss what her code of conduct might be. In her post, Elizabeth shares some of her answers and encouraged others to create their own as well. The components of this Code of Conduct include: (1) having a word that you use as a springboard for your life, (2) Identifying your heroes, and (3) Incorporating purpose into your life (according to Elizabeth this means addressing the question "why am I here?", and finally (4) selecting a visual (Elizabeth uses the example of the Swoosh by Nike). After much thought, my Code of Conduct includes the following:

• My word: CREATIVITY ~ I try very hard to be creative in all components of my life. My definition of "creative" is a mix of adventurous and artistic with a bit of inspiration tied in. I try to remember this and make this a part of everything I do - in work life, family life, relationships, friendships, hobbies & interests, etc and I try to encourage others to do the same.
• My heroes: My grandmother, JK Rowling, Mia Hamm, Katharine Hepburn, Eve Ensler ~ there are certainly other women that inspire me and other family members I would consider heroes but when I think about heroes - these are the women that consistently come to mind. They are all very different - a family member, an author, a soccer star, a screen icon, a feminist/activist -- but there are things they also have in common. They are all strong women, they fight for what they believe in, they have been standouts in their field of interest and/or their era, they have broken down barriers and laid the groundwork for the next generation to succeed and dream big, they have created a lasting legacy, and they offer me (and many, many others) hope and inspiration.
• My purpose: EVOLVING ~ my purpose is consistently growing, changing -- like a really great work in progress. I know that I have the opportunity to inspire others, to make a difference, to share my creativity and passion for good and I try to remember the impact I have on others and make sure to be kind, positive and respectful so that others will ideally do the same as well.

I don't have an image yet -- that will also be a work in progress -- but I'll make sure that it is something that encompasses all that I have already thought about and is incredibly creative as well!

What is your personal code of conduct? As Elizabeth says, happy creating....