Responsibility

We are all responsible for our own actions,
And in seeking to justify them we often delude ourselves,
For the final choice is always our own.

We are responsible for the way our lives touch others,
As they too are responsible for the way theirs touch ours in return.

So,
Always,
Be aware,
And accept responsibility,
For the consequences your actions have,
For both yourself and others.

Motives matter little,
Except in our own minds,
For they are mere excuses and cannot alter the outcome of events.

So too take responsibility for your beliefs,
And the actions that flow from them,
Do not defer them to some other authority,
For they are yours,
As is the responsibility for any consequences they might have,
For yourself or for others.

After all, it is easy to say,
“It’s not me, it’s God’s will.”
“It’s not me, it’s the government.”
Or, “It’s the law.”
It is you.
The final choice is always yours,
For good or ill.

Intent

“I didn’t mean to.”
Really?
What did you mean to happen?
Watch your motives and intentions carefully,
As carefully as you watch your actions,
And no matter your original intent,
Be aware,
That people will often judge your intent by the outcome of your actions,
And, if someone was harmed by them,
For the one harmed, your intent may matter little,
Or not at all.

Harm

Do no harm.
However, harm, not always intended,
Will often follow action,
So, more realistically,
Strive to minimise that harm which follows your own actions.