Responsibility

                What is responsibility?

                Merriam Webster defines it as “the quality or state of being responsible.” Responsible is “liable to be called upon to answer for one’s acts or decisions; answerable. Able to fulfill one’s obligations: reliable, trustworthy. Able to choose for oneself between right and wrong. Involving accountability or important duties.

                Accountability.

                Reliability.

                Trustworthiness.

                Discerning.

                All of the above are important characteristics for the term “responsibility.” We each have “responsibilities.” But how do we perceive those responsibilities?

                Many a mother has said, “Think past the end of your nose, down the road a piece, and consider the consequences of your actions BEFORE you actually do those things. Can you live with those consequences of your actions if you have to? If the answer is “no” it might be best NOT to do them. That is being responsible and it’s also respecting yourself.

                It has been said, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” But when you make a mistake it is often easier to own it, admit it, make restitution for it and move on with your life. When you do this, you are accountable – responsible – for what you’ve done and proven trustworthiness.

                Sometimes responsibility is heavy and burdensome, so burdensome that it seems like it would be easier and solve everything if you could simply lay down and die. Many people have “ended it all.” But you become stronger, more knowledgeable and resilient with each challenge you conquer, each obstacle you manage to defeat. Challenges are much easier than obstacles.

                Who is responsible for substance abuse?

                Who is responsible for the global economy?

                Who is responsible for the good things in life?

                Who is responsible?

© 2014 Cathy Thomas Brownfield ~ All Rights Reserved

Complaining

The more I complain, the more I find to complain about. So here I am, finally feeling alive again. It might have something to do with the open window because it's FINALLY 70 degrees here after snow as late as three days ago. YAY!!! It might have something to do with connecting with someone who can be objective about me and is telling me I am doing a pretty good job with my self right now.

You see, something happened on the way to Paradise. When I looked at the lives of women who have had influence over me I saw that they martyred themselves for the people they loved. Hm. Well, I wasn't going to let that happen to me. If the man I was with didn't love me, he didn't need to feel obligated to stay with me. But it's something that comes when you are busy, so busy that you don't realize what is coming up behind you. 

My man says he loves me and always has. But times have been hard. I have thought for years that he was overwhelmed by the hardships and somewhere along the way he has come to lean on me too much. That is probably my fault because I let him lean thinking he would find his way and pick up his load and go on with it again. My mother tried to advise me of the error of my ways but I just didn't understand, perhaps because I was too close to the situation to have any objectivity. 

It's late in the relationship, but I don't hold back now. I am brutally honest if need be. D said to me, "God isn't easy on us, is he? When we need to learn something he is forthright and honest about it, even if it hurts." And D is pretty right on about that. And there's that song, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." 

I think if it wasn't so windy outside I would take a rake to the front yard. But the leaves are skittering along the sidewalk and the highway so maybe the wind will save me some work, some time. And I can sit here and feel good about my life.

(c) 2014 Cathy Thomas Brownfield ~ All Rights Reserved.