Positive Vibes - Responsibility

By John R. Nocero & Sandy Abell

John: Last weekend Kelly and I got a dog. We had an idea that we wanted one for some time, so we went and picked her up last Sunday.

Since then I have felt a heightened sense of responsibility. She is at my feet constantly. I am watching to make sure she does not get into anything she shouldn’t. Is she safe? What is she doing? What is our other dog doing near her?

It is a shock for him too, having a new addition to the family. I realize now just how needed and important this change was for me. Ultimately, if I don’t feed her, care for her, let her play, help her grow, give her water, and a loving home, she will die. That’s a hard pill to swallow.

Yes, all of us will die but we never think of it until it is too late, do we? It is like that with anything really – if I don’t care for my relationship with Kel, that dies. If I don’t do my work, that dies. It comes down to where your attention will go and how you will spend your time that is most important.

To date, that is my lesson and my word for 2020. Focus. Responsibility. Attention. 

Sandy, do you ever think of these things and does it make you realize how precious time and living things are?

Sandy: Congratulations on the newest member of your family John. How fun to have a new little critter in the house.

Yes, it is incredibly important to make sure you take care of her, and it’s great that this is a reminder about how vital it is to nurture all the things that matter to you. Your relationships, your possessions, and your health and well-being in every area.

Sometimes we become complacent and forget to notice all we have. We get lazy and take things for granted. As you pointed out, if you do that with your dogs, they will die.

The same is true for relationships. If we start assuming they will always be there, and don’t accept the responsibility for taking care of them, they too will die. Ideally, in a relationship it is a two-way street, with both people involved doing their share to give as well as take.

I am always aware of the people I love, and the part I play in creating the way we interact. I focus on how precious my people are, and always make sure to let them know how much I appreciate them. We can’t guarantee how long we will each be here, but where we put our responsibility, attention and focus can impact how that experience unfolds.

As you pointed out, nothing lasts forever, so eventually everything will die. However, it’s up to each of us to do what we can to influence how long something will last. The more we accept responsibility for our part of its survival, and focus our attention on making that happen, the longer it will go on.