We all feel the most positive about those things in our lives that are under our control, when we are the "captains of our own ships." We feel negative when things are out of our control, when we are "victims."
Now let's look at what responsibility means: response-ability -- the ability to respond. No matter what the situation is that we are confronting, the ability to respond is under our control, and that's a positive thing. When we accept responsibility for everything in our lives, we are sitting squarely in the captain's seat.
So, I am responsible for climate change and I am responding by replacing fossil fuels with solar electric as fast as I can, by telling my auto dealer that I won't buy another car from her until she has a suitable all-electric model, by preparing for the forest fires that climate change is bringing with increasing frequency and ferocity to my region. I have also written my Member of Parliament and told him we need the same bold action on climate change that we saw his government take on the pandemic. Let's go!
Oh, and what about that second question? Who's to blame? It is a meaningless concept and an utter waste of time. Blame is the assessment of guilt for something that happened in the past. Guilt is the cesspool of human emotions and the past is gone.
Yesterday's history.
Tomorrow's a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called The Present.
2 comments:
Dan this is one of your best blog posts on a blog that is consistently excellent. What you say about responsibility is absolutely true. Too often the temptation is to play the 'victim card.' That we are responsible is a first step in constructive engagement and change. Thanks for an excellent post and for your wisdom and work.
Bob Preuss
Thanks, Bob
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