Exercise 9: There Really Is No Excuse!

Writing Exercise 9: Write about a time when you had to make an excuse for something.

Yesterday, I was slammed with work and family stuff.  It seemed like I didn’t have a moment to myself to do anything I really wanted to do.  I didn’t get to the papers I wanted to grade.  I didn’t get to participate in my daily writing exercise.  I didn’t even get to have a proper dinner!

Folks who know me know that I tell people to take care of themselves first, as that is really the only way to take care of others.  In any manual about safety, they always insist on you taking care of yourself first, whether it is to affix your oxygen mask securely to your own face before assisting others, or assessing the situation to ensure your own safety before approaching what might be a dangerous scene.  However, yesterday, it felt like I forgot to look both ways, and ran right into the danger zone without my own mask securely fastened to my face!

I woke today wondering about the poor choices I made yesterday.  I, and my belly, remembered the large bag of kettle cooked potato chips I ate for dinner.  Why did I do that?  How could I have let myself run so ragged?  I can easily rattle off answers and admit that I ran out of time.  I had too much work to do.  It is the end of the semester for my students and their stress level has increased, thus affecting my stress level.  My son is going through a lot, and he needs me to be supportive.  The list goes on and on. All of these supposed reasons are valid and important, and yet, they aren’t really reasons at all.  They are excuses for my making poor choices.

Isn’t that the truth?  I chose in every instance to fill my time the way I did.  I chose to eat a bag of chips instead of an apple.  I chose to stop my work and listen to my son.  I chose to get upset about all of it as well.  Each choice was mine to make.  No one forced my hand.  Therefore, if I am not happy with the consequences, then I really have no one to blame but myself. 

In my frustration and sadness last night, I was really upset with myself for making choices that didn’t honor my path.  I chose to help someone with their air mask and cursed the universe for my suffocation. 

In the future, instead of making excuses, I think I would rather make change.  Instead of validating my experience with cooking up reasons, I will acknowledge my core self and learn to make better choices.  No one ever makes excuses when they drop a coin on the floor.  They simply pick it up and choose to hold it differently.  This is the approach I am willing to practice. 

There are two wonderful people I know who do a radio show called, "The Quest of Life."  Their names are Harry Faddis and Steve Sims.  I remember they had a beautiful sign off at the end of their show and I'd like to close out this post with it. 

Harry Faddis: "Take care of yourself..."
Steve Sims: "...and then take care of others."