Blog 93 – 8.13.15

As children we often rebel at the authority that parents, teachers, and others have over us. Worse than the rebellion though is that we get into the habit of not accepting responsibility for our own thoughts, words, and actions. Probably the biggest reason we believe in the Devil is so we will still have someone to blame. Like Flip Wilson’s Geraldine character we tell ourselves, “The Devil made me do it.”

No one has ever made you do anything you did not want to do. I was a timid, weak, and cowardly little boy but when my daddy whom I feared told me I was not getting up from the kitchen table till I had eaten the liver on my plate I saw a vision of a small skeleton sitting at that table and knew big and loud as my daddy was that he could never make me eat liver. As an adult I have had liver a time or two but it has to be thin and smothered in onions and gravy before I can keep it down.

It is a matter of taste but even at that young age I knew it was a wrong thing to force our taste on others and also that even bigger stronger people must have our consent to control us. My brother was more willful than I and defied my parents far more often. He always seemed happier more outgoing than I was. Always giving in to others wishes, tastes, opinions, and beliefs is not healthy and is a symptom of low self esteem.

Blaming others for things that happen in our lives is a foolish way to live. We are responsible to take what life presents us (the presents or gifts we are given) and make the best of them. It is silly to waste a lot of time blaming life or anyone else for our challenges, our mistakes, or our trials. Accept that you alone are responsibility for where you are, whom you are with, and what you are doing today with your life. These things are all a result of choices you have made and no one else is to blame – no boogey man, no devil, no younger brother or sister, no parent, you cannot even say honestly that the dog ate your homework because even if he did you left it where he could get to it.

It will surprise you how freeing  and empowering it is just to admit, “I am responsible, I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul.” What a powerful and important step that is in self discovery, learning who you truly are. I agree with Billy Crystal’s Fernando Lamas character. You not only “look marvelous” you are a marvelous and a magnificent being awakening to your highest potential.

Your friend and fellow traveler, and fan,
David White