Loyalty, in general use, is a devotion and faithfulness to a nation, cause, philosophy, country, group, or person. Philosophers disagree on what can be an object of loyalty, as some argue that loyalty is strictly interpersonal and only another human being can be the object of loyalty.
Loyalty is an important value to me.
In my family, we may bicker internally, but we defend each other externally. We have each other’s backs. My parents have both walked away from toxic familial relationships and made a stand in our extended family about how we treat each other and expect to be treated in turn. This modelling of sticking by your values empowers us to have voice and agency.
Loyalty is a quality I gift to people in my life, but it is also a quality I expect to receive as well.
I am loyal to my sense of idealism:
In my friendships, we have unwritten, unspoken codes of conducts – we behave in sisterly ways.
In my relationships, I expect loyalty. I have ended relationships where this has not been unwavering.
In my professional sphere, I am loyal to my team, to those who I serve.
In my circles, we are loyal to each other, as supporters, champions and advocates of each other and the shared experience.
In each of these relationship spheres, loyalty is contracted, so when it is tested, the agreement is revisited and reviewed. Loyalty is black and white for me, there is no grey area. I choose not to have disloyal people in my life.
I look out for many people, but I also know that many people are looking out for me.
By contrast, I am not loyal to materialism:
In my tastes and preferences, I am much less loyal. I am not what they call loyal to a brand. I experiment and look out for deals. I don’t eat, drink, wear certain brands.
Loyalty to others, who are human connections, is important to me. Loyalty to abstract ideas or products is of less importance to me.
Ethical_Leader 