In Part 1, I mused about the fact that there are obligations we have to other people that we can't (usually) make excuses to get out of, as opposed to the ones we impose upon ourselves. I described some of my own:
1. You should do a 10-minute walk every morning!
2. You should do a crossword puzzle every day!
3. You should write poetry every day!
I then imposed an obligation on myself to create a “Part 2" to that blog post within the next week.
I ... (sniff) ... FAILED!
Nevertheless, better late than never, and let’s see if I can use the word “never” again within this sentence. (Nailed it!)
Anyway, my point was that the world imposes so many obligations on us already. Why do we seek out new ways to prove to ourselves that we’re failures?
Well, maybe we’re not. Maybe our self-imposed obligations are good ideas, fine and dandy ideas, in fact. But our *timing* just isn’t as realistic as it should be.
Maybe we need to cut ourselves some slack. Sometimes when a friend or relative (*cough* husband *cough) bemoans their failure to do this or that completely nonessential thing, I suggest they ask themselves what advice they would give to someone else who was putting themselves down like that.
The usual response (if they’re being honest and not self-deprecating) is that they’d advise that hypothetical other person to go easy on themselves, and just do the best they can.
Which is what I am saying to myself - and to you, if you’ve been following this blog, and my poems, and your own self-imposed obligations.
Cut yourself some slack! Set those obligations, sure. It’s great to try and improve yourself. But don’t push yourself so hard that you lose interest in the very thing you’ve been trying to do more of.
So you think walking is good for you? Great! Then go for a walk - when you feel like going for a walk.
Love doing crossword puzzles? Great! Do them whenever you feel like it.
Love writing poetry? Hey, me too! You should definitely write more - whenever you want to.
And if you don’t feel like it? Well, ask yourself this question: a hundred years from now - October 10, 2116 - who’ll care?
Live your life. Enjoy your life. Help the people around you to enjoy their lives.
Beyond those - what other obligations do you really need?