During the last couple of weeks, I've noticed something. People for some reason feel that they have no need to be responsible; we do not accept our mistakes, do not admit when we're wrong, and we decide that blaming other people for our screw-ups is the way to go. I have no idea where this notion came from; I mean, since when do we live in an era where everyone decides that there is no such thing as responsibility, as obligation, as duty? Since when do we live in an era where there is absolutely no honor? But then I realized something: the world has always been like this, I was just too young to notice.
As you grow up, you learn many different things about the world that surrounds you, and what life is supposed to be like. As you grow and become an adult, you are given more and more responsibilities; if you go to college, you have to wake up in the morning on your own and study on your own. If you work, you're given responsibilities that you're supposed to keep. If you become a part of an organization, you're given duties you are supposed to carry out. This is all a part of growing up, and people have always tried to avoid responsibility as best as they can.
Just because people have been doing this for so long does not make it right, but unfortunately, it has become embedded in our culture. We've gone from accepting our mistakes and owning up to them to throwing other people under the bus so we don't get punished. Our go-to phrase has become "well that's not my job, I'm not supposed to do that" instead of saying "how else can I help?". We're given the opportunity to do something important, something that matters, and we undermine these opportunities by dreading and avoiding responsibilities. There are people all around the world who would love to get the opportunities a lot of us get, and would truly appreciate the responsibilities and duties given to them. However, here we are, a bunch of people who just like to complain about how much we have to do and do not appreciate what is right in front of us.
How about instead of complaining about everything that you have to do, we sit down and show some gratitude for the opportunities we are given? Let's give thanks for the chance of being able to learn, for the chance of being able to work, for the chance of being a member of an organization you really love, for the chance of doing all the things you can do. Let's appreciate what we have, because others may lack what we possess. Let's appreciate the opportunities we get because others may not get them. And let's appreciate the responsibilities we are given, because if we're lucky enough to be given responsibilities, that means we're doing something right.
