Journal Entry on Responsibility


What Did I Learn Today?


The elders call it so well that I have to sit up and pay attention. The discussion was on how does one takes responsibility for themselves. I was asked by a bunch of elders " how do you take responsibility for yourself?"

I thought to myself. Here comes another trick question, one where I might have to go away and think about it or maybe I can just give a “funny" answer so she can get straight to the point”

Ok, truth be told that day I was feeling self conscious.

I woke up early and was getting ready to head to base, My morning routine was as per usual. A cup of tea, iron my clothes and then leave to get to the base.

Lo and behold, electricity/power was cut off that morning!

This happens quite often and sometimes daily.

I silently curse because I have nothing ironed, I should know better right? Be prepared for no power, no electricity on a daily basis.

When there is power , put things in place!

So I roll into the base looking like a ramfle diva!

When the question is asked "how do I take responsibility for myself, I took it personally and it went straight to my head.

By now I should also know no one on the base cares about how one looks nor about if a question is taken personally

"Do you have an answer yet Nyabo?"

"Should I go away and come back with one?"
She laughed " you people think you are so smart!"
" Madam I can tell you this and when I am done you will know that I am absolutely right about you and it will make you start thinking and paying attention and stop moving through this journey like it’s just a job.
Just as you cannot eat next week’s bread now you cannot travel next week’s journey now, pay attention!"
"You, Madam Akosua Yaki, born on a Sunday, have a vested interest in your community and in the world. You are a full fledged citizen of them all. Your every thought, your every word and action has an impact on those around you and leaves a legacy for those who will follow you. You better get fully aware of the power to either create change or get over your discomfort of the support the status quo. You are willing but not sure how to accept your personal and collective responsibility of how society is ordered and governed. You will use your time, your resources and your voice to make the world a better place in which to live. That is how you take responsibility for yourself! You pay attention to who you are and what you have been put here, not here now, but HERE to do!"
What do you say to me now Madam smart one?
I say ok!

Peace

Akosua's Latest Book is Now Available




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

30 Things I Believe

Image
What is being of service? Looking upon another human being with kindness and compassion and not judgement is a profound act of service and though such a form of service lacks for whistles and bells, this expression of “service” comes from truly understanding the power of your soul and what it means to “look upon another with eyes of grace.” Carolyn Myss 1. I believe in sleep 2. I believe that love can cure it all  3. I believe in feeling my feelings 4. I believe that nature is my best teacher 5. I believe that friends are family minus blood lines 6. I believe that discipline and consistency combined with talent  can and will can create miracles 7. I believe in following my intuition 8. I believe that rest is part of the Journey 9. I believe in that all things are lessons that God will have us learn 10. I believe in choosing the people around you with care 11. I believe that vacations can reboot creativity  12. I believe in joy - doing what brings you joy - and often 13
Read more

What Does Support Look Like to You?

Image
  You save yourself energy when you learn to ask people what they need, instead of assuming you know best then acting on your own impulses. Allowing people to define what support looks like gives you an ability to assess if you have the capacity to show up - Minaa B If someone asks you right now, what does support look like to you, what would be your answer? It takes self reflection , self awareness and more importantly a whole load of authenticity to answer. On the flip side, do you rush to support others without them even asking- there may be times when that is required, however many a time we assume that we know what others want and need. The times when we do assume, after a while a feeling of resentment builds because "how could they be so ungrateful?" or "why are they not seeing their need for my help?" the other classic is "they must need my help to show them because they clearly are not seeing that they need support" We continue to assume what othe
Read more

Sensible Optimism

Image
  Optimism is usually defined as a belief that things will go well. But that's incomplete. Sensible optimism is a belief that the odds are in your favor, and over time things will balance out to a good outcome even if what happens in between is filled with misery. And in fact you  know  it will be filled with misery. You can be optimistic that the long-term growth trajectory is up and to the right, but equally sure that the road between now and then is filled with landmines, and always will be. Those two things are not mutually exclusive." Who told us that all the roads on the Journey of life will be smooth and bump free? And even if you knew or remember who told you, why did you believe it given what you know? What if the blessing, what if the growth, what if the joy is found on the rocky bumpy road? What if? And if it is, we can rest easier that the bumps and rocky roads are designed with us in mind, designed for us to grow, to learn, to live a life that is filled with varie
Read more