Duty and Responsibility

Duty and Responsibility seem to be "four" letter words in today's fast-moving world. Call me old fashioned but these ideals are a grounding force in my busy world. I believe these sentiments are driving forces in directing the passions in my life.

I think that duty is a part of conscience. It is the forward thinking apparatus that can serve as a a guidepost in a field of choices. We generally accept conscience (guilty or otherwise) as a method of looking back at actions already committed and judging them. But a sense of duty to yourself, family, country, mankind can be a counterbalance to ego. I like checking in with my sense of duty when in doubt as to which choice to make (moral decisions) or path to follow. Duty doesn't always win, but it's comforting for me to know I can use it as a yardstick.

Many people talk about personal responsibility and how it doesn't seem to be accepted as readily today as it was in the past. We are all too ready to let others assume actions on our behalf while we sit back and helplessly await outcomes for which we have little control. I'd rather be an instigator of my actions with the responsibilities and rewards that come with them. When I fail it may knock me for a loop, but I can look at the experience as my doing and hopefully learn from it. To me, responsibility is the mantle of adulthood... when you put it on you are who you appear to others.

Armed with duty and responsibility...pretty good armor for today's world even if they are a little old fashioned.