I’m nearing retirement.

I was ethical; I told the truth; I opposed employee abuse; I worked for race and gender equality in the workplace.

I paid a heavy price, both in monetary/promotional terms and in personal terms.

My reward? I get to be self-righteous and say what a wonderful person I am, while I watch those who were willing to lie, flout the law and abuse subordinates be heaped with awards, 6-figure salaries and high honors.

I’m definitely a model for the young members of my family. They think I was a fool. I don’t care to be self-righteous and holier-than-thou. So I continue to work a daily midlevel job and wonder how I could have done it better and why I chose the paths I did.

Too late now to change (it is as it is), but I can't help wondering.