I dedicate this post to my dad. It’s his birthday today. Both he and my mom passed away when I was a teenager in a car accident.
My dad taught me many lessons in life. He raised me, made me into the man I am today with the limited time he had. Many of the lessons included: respect others, especially your elders, work hard in life, enjoy life, always do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, be responsible for your actions.
I’m going to focus on the last lesson for this post. In my experience, professionally and personally, I see too often that adults do not take personal responsibility seriously. Professionally, I don’t know how many people that I have talked to over the years, whether it was in jail or in court, that pass the responsibility of their own actions on others. It’s rare to hear someone own up to why they are in their current situation.
Personally, I see and read about pretty much more of the same.
I can only speak for my own experiences. I am not perfect and never say that I am. I myself am responsible for every decision that I make. I was forced into making adult decisions at an early age. I decided to do whatever it takes to make my parents proud. I am where I am today due to the decisions that I have made. I stand by each of those decisions, both good and bad. Bad decisions, without making mistakes and acknowledging them, you are definitely doomed to repeating them. I know I am a better person by being responsible one. It is difficult at times to swallow my pride and admit fault when I make a bad decision, but that’s life and I’m only human. My dad was a good man. He worked hard to support our family and I strive everyday to be a man he’s proud to have raised.