BE RESPONSIBLE !!!

             It is easy to blame others for every wrong we see or experience. It is so easy to extricate ourselves from the causes of all anomalies existing in our communities. We do not see the relationship neither do we see ourselves in the picture as a contributing factor to whatever the cause is. We are too innocent, too holy, and too pure. Others must be blamed. The government must pay for these errors, we say.

Has it ever crossed your hearts that those people you blame are also seeing themselves the way you see yourself – INNOCENT! They also blame you for the evils in the society and will be so happy if you are punished for allowing these evils to exist and prevail.

Surprised? Don’t be. It is the nature of man to always see others as the problem. It takes a higher level of insight and maturity for a person to see himself as the cause to some, if not all, societal problems. That is when he can start making moves to change things and become really INNOCENT.

Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Be that thing you feel the world ought to be. At least, that will stop someone’s complaints. Work left for somebody never gets done. Nobody is “SOMEBODY”. Take responsibility. Our generation finds it easy to point fingers at the government, at elders, at institutions, at leaders, at industries, at the economy, at the nation, etc. the salient question we have refused to ask ourselves is this… “Are these people perfect?” If it is a fact that they are not perfect, why sit down and whine about their imperfections when you can do something about it? You do not have to be a superstar neither must you have the spotlight on you before you make a change. Take responsibility!

How nice Nigeria will be if every Nigerian starts to do what he has capacity to do instead of waiting for the government. We wait for the government to take our garbage away. We wait for the government to clean up our streets. We wait for the government to clear our gutters and water channels as if it was the government that messed it up in the first place. We keep comparing ourselves with developed nations when we know so well that we are just at the brink of development. Who is the government, if I may ask? A person? No. In my own opinion, the government is abstract. The government has lots on its mind that it can’t remember your street’s filthiness or power instability. What have you done about the situation? What move have you made to mobilize people to fix the wrong instead of complaining while you wait for the government? I don’t know if you are waiting for the president to come with head pan and shovels to clean up your stuffed, blocked water channels. What will it cost you to do that and secure your health, your neighbors’ and most importantly, your family’s?

Before you raise your voice and point accusing fingers at others, sincerely ask yourselves these questions and answer them sincerely too… “What have I done to change the situation?”, “Can I really do nothing about it, as I claim?” The society has lost its focus! Justice miscarries. Priorities are no longer priorities.  Leaders have little time to think about their followers. In a state as this, it will be so pitiful if the abandoned followers refuse to do something about their situation but rather sit and grumble about it.

It’s time to rise and take RESPONSIBILITY. It’s time to chart your own path. I get upset when I hear energetic and healthy people whine about something they can take care of. They say all sort of emotional and motivational words – highlighting the government’s weaknesses and blah blah blah. I wish they were half as good in taking responsibility as much as they are in criticizing the government and other authorities. If you have not contributed to the development of any institution, you have no ground to criticize it. Leave criticism to the stakeholders because you are yet to be one.

ENDPOINT: A large proportion of people in our society have chosen to be irresponsible. Don’t be one of them! Do what you have to do. Don’t wait for anyone. Take responsibility over issues that affect you. Don’t endanger yourself by waiting for an ‘irresponsible’ leader to carry out his responsibility. Do something for yourself. Mike Murdock said “What you hate is a clue to what you are to heal”. If the filthiness around you irritates you, do something about it. If the dilapidated situation of your estate annoys you, fix it…..with your resources. You are doing it for your own good and you are developing your RESPONSIBILITY MUSCLE. Never let an opportunity to make a change pass you by. Never take your eyes away from any anomaly except when and if you can sincerely do nothing about it. Even if you can’t do anything, you can convince someone who can, to do something about it. Have a Problem-Solution Chart. List all problems you see around you: at home, work, school, church, mosque, etc. decide what you will do about them and start right away. It brings so much satisfaction to your life to know that you have relieved someone of pain.

My experience has shown that others want to make changes too but they lack courage. As soon as you step out to change things, they’ll join you and that will make the burden lot easier to bear.

Seek problems, think solutions, build courage and take action.

Take Charge (Be responsible!)

Contact me @ soaringeagle4life@gmail.com or +2348130207064