What I made up was someone was too lazy, busy, or important to walk 10 feet to throw out their garbage. They would rather litter than do the right thing (even though throwing it out would have been easy.) I was a bit steamed while I picked it up and took it to the can.
What does this have to do with relationships? Well, how many times have you been too busy, lazy or self-important to do the healthy thing in your relationship?
Some examples: "I'm too tired to speak nicely to my partner." "I have too much to do to remember to say 'I love you' today." "I'm the one wronged, why should I bring the subject up?"
Let's face it, most people know it's not good to litter, but look along our roads, in our cities, and around the parking lots- trash everywhere. (I won't even talk about the beach!) It may be little things like cigarette butts, candy wrappers, or receipts, but it is still trash. Do people minimize their littering because they think it's only a small thing?
How about minimizing the unhealthy things you do in your relationship because they are small? "Hey, it was a little lie!" "It really isn't important I do that one small thing my partner asked." "I don't have to use 'I' statements or make a request in this single instance."
The real problem is doing the healthy things (like throwing your garbage out, recycling, or being healthy in your relationship) takes thought. You must be aware and conscious of what you are doing and how you are acting. Horrors of horrors, you must be responsible for yourself! :)
So your courageous work is to be thoughtful. Don't minimize the small things. Be healthy by choice with your partner (and your trash.) Stop finding excuses and just do it. Be responsible for yourself today.
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Image edited from terminallychl's Flickr page
Ouch.
ReplyDeleteThe pun and the post are about responsibility:
“My doctor asked me if I'd thought about losing some weight and I told him I'd thought about it for 20 years.” #humor
Jim,
ReplyDeleteIt would take the world a long distance if people took responsibility for themselves (and stopped trying to be responsible for everyone else but!)