Jack was still sleeping, and it was already past 6 am. He’s late for school now, so his mother tried to wake him up. “Jack, get up! You’re late for school!” But Jack said, “5 more minutes, Mom…” and he returned to sleep.Minutes later, his mother tried to wake him up again: “Jack, get up! You need to go school!” But Jack loved to sleep, so he turned his back on his mother and said: “But I still want to sleep!” He pulled the blanket to his head.
His mother, now displaying a ‘motherly demeanor’, said: “Jack, you have to get up now! You really need to go to school!”
“But I don’t want to go!”
To which his mother replied: “But you need to! You ARE the school principal!”
It was a fictitious story told to us by my high school teacher; I knew she was just trying to make a point. She said that being responsible is doing things you don’t like. When I was younger, I agreed with her. Jack didn’t want to go to school but he had an obligation, so he still went and did his job. It made sense.
Now, after revisiting the story, I think my teacher might have been mistaken….
Being responsible is not simply defined as doing things you don’t like. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be in that position in the first place. To me, being responsible is doing things, whether you like it or not, because it’s for the better good. It entails sacrifice.
Parents want to be parents, that’s why they have children. So, they sacrifice things they used to do to take care of their kids. A public official wants to serve and he is a powerful person. But does that mean he can do whatever he wants? No. Otherwise, people will brand him as corrupt. In the church, we turn off our cellphones and listen to the gospel because we want to be responsible Christians.
If you are a student and you want better grades, then you have to sacrifice. It is your responsibility to improve yourself. If you are employed, you might be required to attend workshops and seminars for professional growth.
You might not like what your responsibility requires you to do, but you still have to sacrifice and do it. Or you’ll be buried in your own mediocrity. And when that day comes, do you ask why?
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I have responsibilities that I enjoy.
Very well put! Being responsible for the better, common good - something many of us forget about from time to time too and need a good reminder about that aspect.
Well put, so many do not want to take on any responsibilities and they lose because of it.
Expectations put on us by others can be a burden though, I think that is the negative of responsibility. Responsibility should be joyous expectations robs us of that.
Thanks for coming by and checking out the pictures on my blog of where I live.
African Boy, Good to know you enjoy your responsibilities!
Jeni and Vic, Both your inputs are very noteworthy. Thanks for always visiting, hope both of you won’t ever get tired.