I walked into the kitchen and spotted a blue solo cup on the counter. The following conversation played out in my head:
"Whose cup is this? Which kid took out yet another cup? Didn't I ask them to stop getting a new cup every time they needed a drink? What is wrong with these people? They obviously don't ever listen to me."
In the midst of my frustration, I realized the cup was mine. Oopsies. Good thing I didn't speak those words aloud.
I went on with my life and my to-do list leaving MY cup right where I found it. I am the grown-up and can leave my cup where ever my grown-up heart desires.
I came back into the kitchen a little while later and saw the cup again. I completely forgot the cup was mine so I rehashed the above conversation in my head. I was baffled by who left that cup on the counter. And then I remembered it was me. Again. Y'all, I did this two more times throughout the night. It was like Groundhog's Day but I was the only one celebrating.
I took a picture of the cup. I don't know why. Maybe so I could remember my crazy but I am not sure why I would want to do that. I told Scott my crazed situation and we both laughed. We made jokes about how old I am getting and that I am obviously losing my mind.
I couldn't get that cup out of my mind. Why did it take me FOUR times to realize and accept that the cup was mine? It was me who got out yet another cup. I was the one who did not put my cup away like I was supposed to almost driving me to the loony bin with my madness. I was so quick to blame everyone else when there was no one else to blame but myself. Ouch.
The cup. It reminded me that, oftentimes, I am quick to blame others before looking at the one who is responsible: me. Don't we all do this from time-to-time? We look everywhere else but internally. Our situation is everyone else's fault instead of the true culprit: our-self. Life seems to be easier when we convince ourselves that the blame lies in another.
We have a ghost in our house. The same ghost lived in my house as a child. The "Not Me" ghost surfaces when there is someone to take responsibility among the boys but "Not Me" was the culprit. We talk about how it is so much easier in the long run to own your stuff, learn, grow, and move on than to blame "Not Me." I am not sure that wisdom is penetrating their little minds, but I hope they hold onto this at a young age. I sure wish I had.
I have deflected responsibility too often. It's always someone else's cup. It has to be because sometimes taking responsibility stings and hurts and really really sucks. But, what I have learned, is that by owning what I have done or the mistake I have made immediately, I protect myself (and sometimes those around me) from more pain and heartache. The more I blame someone else for my cup, the longer I stay in bondage to that cup. Admit. Own. Learn. Grow. Move on. That's my motto.
The next time I have the same crazed conversation with myself multiple times, I will laugh and than own my junk! The cup is mine.
"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." Proverbs 22:3
Love & Blessings,
Meg
"Whose cup is this? Which kid took out yet another cup? Didn't I ask them to stop getting a new cup every time they needed a drink? What is wrong with these people? They obviously don't ever listen to me."
In the midst of my frustration, I realized the cup was mine. Oopsies. Good thing I didn't speak those words aloud.
I went on with my life and my to-do list leaving MY cup right where I found it. I am the grown-up and can leave my cup where ever my grown-up heart desires.
I came back into the kitchen a little while later and saw the cup again. I completely forgot the cup was mine so I rehashed the above conversation in my head. I was baffled by who left that cup on the counter. And then I remembered it was me. Again. Y'all, I did this two more times throughout the night. It was like Groundhog's Day but I was the only one celebrating.
I took a picture of the cup. I don't know why. Maybe so I could remember my crazy but I am not sure why I would want to do that. I told Scott my crazed situation and we both laughed. We made jokes about how old I am getting and that I am obviously losing my mind.
I couldn't get that cup out of my mind. Why did it take me FOUR times to realize and accept that the cup was mine? It was me who got out yet another cup. I was the one who did not put my cup away like I was supposed to almost driving me to the loony bin with my madness. I was so quick to blame everyone else when there was no one else to blame but myself. Ouch.
The cup. It reminded me that, oftentimes, I am quick to blame others before looking at the one who is responsible: me. Don't we all do this from time-to-time? We look everywhere else but internally. Our situation is everyone else's fault instead of the true culprit: our-self. Life seems to be easier when we convince ourselves that the blame lies in another.
We have a ghost in our house. The same ghost lived in my house as a child. The "Not Me" ghost surfaces when there is someone to take responsibility among the boys but "Not Me" was the culprit. We talk about how it is so much easier in the long run to own your stuff, learn, grow, and move on than to blame "Not Me." I am not sure that wisdom is penetrating their little minds, but I hope they hold onto this at a young age. I sure wish I had.
I have deflected responsibility too often. It's always someone else's cup. It has to be because sometimes taking responsibility stings and hurts and really really sucks. But, what I have learned, is that by owning what I have done or the mistake I have made immediately, I protect myself (and sometimes those around me) from more pain and heartache. The more I blame someone else for my cup, the longer I stay in bondage to that cup. Admit. Own. Learn. Grow. Move on. That's my motto.
The next time I have the same crazed conversation with myself multiple times, I will laugh and than own my junk! The cup is mine.
"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." Proverbs 22:3
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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