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That’s No Excuse! July 17, 2013

Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People.
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Woodstock-&-SnoopyI don’t get too bogged down with “back story” or knee jerk reactions to people’s foibles.

I give people wide latitude to be who they want to be.

But . . . having a crappy childhood is NOT a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card.

When X harms another being (be it child, animal, spouse, date, stranger, or parent) with malicious intent when X is old enough and mentally adept enough to know better, I refuse to accept the “but I had a rough childhood” excuse.

“Your childhood is over.  You are now in charge of your life.  You can’t blame the past (or anyone in it) for what you do today.  Even if you can formulate a convincing argument to the contrary, it does you no good.  Your childhood is gone.  Blaming the past is like blaming gravity for the glass you broke.”

~ Peter McWilliams, Life 101, Parents, p. 403

Aah . . . that’s better!

What say you?  Who is responsible for the choices we make today?  Us or “them”?

Related posts: The Matter of Back Story    (The Water Witch’s Daughter) * Worn Out Excuses * Let the Punishment Fit the Crime