Chances and Responsibility
So for some reason (most likely boredom) I watched part of the Doctor Phil/Pat O'Brien special this evening and it got me to thinking. Pat kept saying over and over that it wasn't him, that it was his disease. Don't get me wrong, I understand and truly believe that alcoholism is a disease. I know how serious it is and how it can mess you up (for those of you that dont know, my dad is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for almost 2 years now).
However... I hate it when people don't take responsibility for their own actions. Drugged, drunk, or just plain dumb, if you did it, own up to it and be accountable for it. How hard is that? In today's society, it seems almost impossible.
Take my very own dad for example. His actions while drinking have had profound and long lasting effects on me. Has he ever made amends for this? No. And he will be the first to lecture on being responsible. And that bothers me.
What bothers me more, is the fact that people get so many chances to screw up lately. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, and yes you should be learning from those mistakes. That isn't my problem. I have an issue with those people who make the same mistake over and over and are always given another chance.
Again, lets take my dad for example. My dad would go on a binge and dissappear for days, or come home and start getting violent, or dissappear for a while and then come back and get violent. And what was the outcome of all this? My dad would get down on his knees and cry & beg my mom to take him back. She always did. Not only is she teaching him that as long as he apologozes all the issues will be swept under the rug. And she also taught us that this is the way it should be.
Well, I am at the point in my life where I have gone to the complete opposite extreme. You only get one chance with me. You fuck it up, you are gone. Life is too short for that shit.
The moral of this story - don't mess up. Shannon is a Pass/Fail course and you need to be damn close to perfect to pass.
However... I hate it when people don't take responsibility for their own actions. Drugged, drunk, or just plain dumb, if you did it, own up to it and be accountable for it. How hard is that? In today's society, it seems almost impossible.
Take my very own dad for example. His actions while drinking have had profound and long lasting effects on me. Has he ever made amends for this? No. And he will be the first to lecture on being responsible. And that bothers me.
What bothers me more, is the fact that people get so many chances to screw up lately. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, and yes you should be learning from those mistakes. That isn't my problem. I have an issue with those people who make the same mistake over and over and are always given another chance.
Again, lets take my dad for example. My dad would go on a binge and dissappear for days, or come home and start getting violent, or dissappear for a while and then come back and get violent. And what was the outcome of all this? My dad would get down on his knees and cry & beg my mom to take him back. She always did. Not only is she teaching him that as long as he apologozes all the issues will be swept under the rug. And she also taught us that this is the way it should be.
Well, I am at the point in my life where I have gone to the complete opposite extreme. You only get one chance with me. You fuck it up, you are gone. Life is too short for that shit.
The moral of this story - don't mess up. Shannon is a Pass/Fail course and you need to be damn close to perfect to pass.
posted by Shannon @ 9:56 PM
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