I'm fearful of a growing trend that seems to be seeping into the minds of our generation and those after us. I am not the first person to discuss this subject nor shall I be the last.

It is that of responsibility. Not the fear of responsibility. But those that refuse to take ownership of it. The people who have made it their life long ambition to sue the last coins of their previous employer, or the adverts that encourage us to not look where we are going on a wet surface. Instead! Great news! We can blame it on someone else!

You know the adverts? The ones where some low budget scene is taking place where a narrator comments on the person you're watching. Something like:

“Lesley was minding her own business, on a lovely summers morning, skipping into work, probably thanking God for the birds in the sky and Abba for their music, when on passing the reception desk into her work, she inhaled some begonias and tragically…
(cue dramatic Jaws music)
….sneezed. Consequently, Lesley was off work for 6 months and thanks to us was awarded £17,000 pounds. Call now on a premium rate number 0800 - BREAK YOUR LEG NOW TO EARN SOME MONEY�

Ok - I went a little far….but you get my jist?

Now, I sympathize in certain situations, I personally was given compensation for a car crash which alternatively changed my career and I suffered loss of earnings, no biggy, these things happen to people everyday. So I'm not condoning those who seek compensation for loss of earnings through an accident or insurance purposes. But I'm more concerned about this rush of adverts that sensationalise the wonderment of money by blaming someone else for something that happened to you. In short. I'm fearful of this ever increasing blame culture.

By today's standards in the media, if we suffer - we should be treated or find someone to blame. It is no longer acceptable for us to say ‘Oh well, tomorrow will be a better day'.

More and more glove compartments hold cameras in case we should ever need it for ‘photographic evidence'. It is of course. to strategically make it easier for the police and insurance companies to see the aftermath, but also nowadays… in some cases, to show it was not our fault.

Our headlines are being overtaken by lawsuits to MacDonalds who provide the delicious Big Mac that can cause obesity. So therefore it's YOUR fault MacDonalds for my clinical health. Or it's my parents fault for my erractic behaviour. Or “I've got PMT so I can shout at you today�. (Believe me - I've heard this been said) Etc etc.

The reasoning for our present behaviour is endless. The list could take over a 1,000 blogs if I'm not careful. And please, understand, I do not preach. I count myself in the above too. Come on, we've all done it. The classic excuse to not take responsibility of our reactions.

But more and more often I am seeing the disappearance of that wonderful ownership of being responsible for your reactions. Not just our ACTIONS but our REACTIONS. My friends are so tired of hearing me say this - but I'll give you a lovely example that my friend told me the other day.

If someone is in front of you in a car and they halt for no apparent reason, where you have to slam on your breaks….you are in an open top convertible…your reaction would be different with the top down for all people to see you, than if you were in a blacked out van where no one could see your reaction. Am I right? No? Well then you're being responsible for your reactions already and you need read no further.

My main disturbance is this, every addict reasons their addiction from a story of upbringing, of pain, of rejection. Just recently it was reported ex-drug addicts are suing a prison for taking them off drugs too quickly which has caused damage to their health.

From working with drug addicts in the past - this can be dangerous, but no more dangerous than sticking with drugs. At what point did people begin to say - I'm reacting this way because YOU made me?

The carrying on of actions which are justified by someone elses' mistakes. The eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth business.

Too often I hear - “well I know it's wrong and I shouldn't have done it - but SHE did this and I have every right to shout at her.� Regardless of what someone does to you - there is no justification for bad behaviour. Right? It's what we all strive for - what perhaps this website if often is about - about bettering ourselves - how to overcome the moments where we want to blame and justify our actions.

Nowadays however, not only are we getting away with not taking responsibility for our reactions but being rewarded if we've pandered to advertising, or not come off drugs sooner.

Yes we are only human. But I too often hear this as another excuse to not better ourselves in our behaviour. Or to not take responsibility of hurting others.

My question is this. Is there anything we can do to take action with influences such as compensation schemes, or stroking the back of someone who just punched another person in the face? Or are we just to expect that people become more and more like this? Has this always been around and I'm just experiencing it more recently? Have I become this year's scrooge? If so do tell me - and I'll take responsibility for that.

May I say I'm blessed to have many people in my life whom I look up to immensely who say ‘Man - I did a bad thing. I shouldn't have done that� or the ones who just own up and say ‘I don't know why I did that? But I'll try better next time�

The essence of humility and ownership of responsibility to me far outweighs the cause of action in the first place. And there's no greater sentence for me to hear from someone than ‘Man I screwed up but I've learnt for next time� without it being followed by an entourage of reasoning and an 0800 number for earning some quick cash.


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*Please note - if you've suffered eye strain from reading this blog, it is entirely your responsibility to have stopped reading and the author of said blog will not take ownership of controlling your eyes.

Thank you. I'm here all day.