Today, it’s My Choice

 I aaaaam an innocent [wo]ma-a-an - Oh yes I am…🎶   Billy Joel

That phrase could have been my anthem for most of my life. Things happened to me. I absolved myself of responsibility for negative results of decisions I had made because those decisions were always because of others - what they said, what I heard, what I thought they would think. I was innocent, man.

I have finally pulled up my grown-up pants and learned to own the results of my decisions. I try to listen to my higher wisdom, I consider and weigh any options, I pray and ask for insight, then I take action. Some results are unhappy - that’s just the process of learning. As long as no one else has been hurt, I’m still alright, and I’ve grown in the process. Some decisions feel right, but I know I’m ignoring a niggling bit of unease. That’s the part I’m learning to pay attention to. When I choose well, I also get to enjoy the positive ends.

When my choice negatively affects others, I must not only take responsibility; I must then make any amends necessary to make them whole. It’s mine to clean up.

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