Thought Provokers
by Sue Ann Powell
When I was a Senior in high school, the name of our Senior Play was “Off the
Track”. I have reason for thinking of that because ever since Hurricane Ike,
I’ve been “off the track”! For several years, I have managed to get the
newsletter completed and in the mail by the first of each month, but lately,
that has not been the case.
I
can think of numerous reasons why I’ve been unable to focus on my usual routine,
but in reality, they are just excuses. It’s hard to take responsibility and
say, “I just haven’t done it”. Making excuses goes all the way back to Adam who
created the world’s first excuse when God asked him if he had eaten of the tree
he was commanded not to, and he responded, “The woman whom thou gavest to be
with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:12). And when God
asked Eve what she had done, she gave the world’s second excuse, “The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:13)
Excuses negate responsibility, and it is responsibility that separates man from
the rest of the animal kingdom. We are responsible not for what we have, but
for what we could have, not for what we are, but for what we could become. If
we are to take credit for our successes, we must assume responsibility for our
failures. Shakespeare wrote an analogy about excuses being like a large patch
being used to conceal a small hole in a garment. Excuses are harmful
because they prevent us from succeeding, and when repeated often enough, they
become a belief. The belief then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Chuck Gallozzi offers the following list of ways to stop making excuses and get
on with building a life:
Realize that your success or failure depends on you. It depends on the choices
you make. It depends on your attitude. Resolve to start accepting
responsibility today. Don’t find an excuse, find a way. Don’t make excuses,
make good.
Beware of rationalization. We make excuses to hide behavior we are ashamed of.
From time to time, stop and examine your progress. Compare where you are now
with where you would like to be. Don’t make excuses. Make plans and take
corrective action. When you make a mistake, accept responsibility; learn from
it; and don’t repeat it. Use your time for discovering solutions instead of
inventing excuses.
Plant your garden of success today: first plant three rows of
peas:
Patience,
Positive thinking, Persistence.
Next plant three rows of
squash: Squash
excuses, Squash blame; Squash criticism.
Then, plant three rows of
lettuce: Let
us be responsible; Let us be trustworthy;
and
Let us be
ambitious. Finish with
three rows of
turnips: Turn
up when needed; Turn up with a smile;
and
Turn up with confidence.
This
time of being “off the
track” has made me realize that change has taken place in my life and it is up
to me to rearrange my time and routine so I can once again get the job done on
time. Then I can add another
pea
to my garden:
Pride.
Note: "Learning to Lean" performed by the
Blackwood Brothers Quartet