What Can You Do?

What Can You Do?

Do you ever feel out of control? Perhaps the picture of a running child, chasing wildly flitting fireflies resonates. Imagine the fading pink-orange kiss of dusk setting in. Though there are many of the brightly dancing bugs, they move too rapidly, and the child’s hands are too clumsy and slow to herd them where he wants them to go. It is a futile attempt to catch what taunts with the glittering promise of excitement.

What about feeling small? The child is small, but the fireflies are even smaller. Sometimes, when we look at the world, especially as young adults, it can feel overwhelming, like we are just tiny threads, colorful and uniquely textured and completely beautiful in our own individual right, but still just a part of a grand tapestry. Contrary to what many say, I don’t think this is a terrible thing. In fact, by realizing our own size, our own scope, our utter finiteness, we are actually free.

There’s so much we can’t control in life. There are permanent, immutable facts of life we cannot change, and that will be true now and always. But there is something we can cultivate to separate us from the maddening reality of our own limitations. In the grand scope of things, it’s small, miniscule. But in your own life, it’s massive. In fact, it could change everything. And, I promise the results are much more meaningful than finally catching a firefly in jar.

So what is this magical life-changing property I’m discussing?

Responsibility

Yes, I know. It sounds totally un-sexy and definitely not glamorous, and maybe you’re even thinking, “Oh boy, she sounds like my parents.” Or not. Maybe you still think I’m cool. I mean, what’s better than books and getting stuff done? Alright, alright.

You see, I like to think of responsibility—particularly personal responsibility—as owning what you can own in life. Ownership. That sounds bold and important, and if you’re anything like me, you want to be bold. So what falls under this domain? Actually, a lot of things do. For example, consider what you spend your time doing, what life goals you’re pursuing, and how much effort you decide to put into reaching those goals. Now what about your relationships with your family and friends, and how you take care of your health (both physical and mental)? Does it suddenly seem like you have a lot more control over your life? A greater sense of agency in determining the trajectory of where you will end up?

I hope so, because you are an individual so much more than just the things in life that threaten to distract us, divide our focus, and burden us with anxieties. You are small to a world of chaos, but utterly massive in the lives of the people around you. By the way you treat people, you can influence the creation of a circle of mutual support and kindness. Loving others builds warmth and togetherness. Similarly, when you sit down, make an assessment of your life goals, and draft a course of action to work towards those goals, you take ownership of your life’s path. You’re no longer standing still, watching the world swirl around you, wishing you could do that or be this thing you have in your mind. Instead, even if you’re not there yet, you are making progress, accomplishing something meaningful each and every day. I can assure you, satisfaction is created via a day well-spent, even just by making a small check off your list of things to do. This is a thread woven one cord stronger. You are becoming stronger, creating something meaningful for yourself and others.

We can do things or we can complain about them. Life may be filled with setbacks and obstacles, but I want to be the one who’s trying to make the most of every crazy opportunity life presents, even if the circumstances are not ideal. So instead of wishing you could be something, today, you can choose to buckle down, put in the work, and apply yourself to your path. Today is the day you can determine to apply yourself to your education or your job. If you have a friend who’s struggling or a family member you miss, today, you can pick up the phone and make a difference for them, for your mutually shared relationship. If you want to be healthier, read more books, or achieve any other mark of personal betterment, today, you can make the choice to change your schedule, spend less time on things that don’t benefit your life, and instead, devote that time to something useful.

The time to chase all these ambitions is gifted to you, a part of your one amazing chance at life on this planet. We are so infinitely fortunate to be living in the here, in the now, in this time in history, where we have so much freedom to dictate the usage of our time as well as the usage of our minds, hearts, and hands. So what are you going to do with your 24/7?

It’s all about choice. Because in your life, you have a say in what happens, in what you believe about the world and your potential. So let’s take the next step, be bold, and see where we can go! If you’re young, a teenager or young adult, responsibility might sound rigid and restrictive, not at all like a bold step towards the future. But there is true sense of freedom, a mature sense of freedom, that comes when you understand the implications of your actions and are willing and ready to live in light of them. And I won’t lie to you and say taking ownership and responsibility over your life is easy and carefree, but truly, nothing worth having comes easy. The end goal is ever sweetened by the work it takes to get there. The view at the top of the mountain is ever more refreshing after the effort of a climb. The relationships you work to build and cultivate are ever more deep because of the time you spent sharing, supporting, and listening.

In the end, personal responsibility is worth it because it’s something wholly yours. Your responsibility determines what you will build and what you will become. So really, the question I pose today is this:

What Will You Do?

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