Responsibility and Freedom
I'm always hesitant to write about responsibility because it has an air of judgment about it. I hear a lot about how people's problems are their own fault because they aren't taking responsibility for one thing or another or how the younger generations are so entitled and don't have any sense of responsibility. We have weaponized a lot of words over the past few years, and responsibility is one of them.
There is, of course, some truth to these statements. Our lives would be a lot easier if we took responsibility for them, society would be better if we all took responsibility for the things we should take responsibility for, and young people are not necessarily known for their sense of responsibility (some are though – I've met young people that put me to shame).
I talk about responsibility because I am obsessively focused on having freedom. I'm not talking about the freedom to say and do whatever you want or to behave in ways that bring their own consequences. You are free to have poor relationships with alcohol, drugs, other people, exercise, food, and a dozen other things, but if you exercise that freedom unwisely, it will end up making you much less free.
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