When thinking about living life, do you ever relate it to responsibility? Well I can tell you I didn't till I watched an episode of Picard on Paramount+. Recently, I've been on a Star Trek binge lately and it has had an effect on me recently. It dug its claws into me when watching Picard and seeing how inspiring he can be in his old age.
Its that sense of wonder I've missed about myself, and that our species still have a lot of potential for the stars. Things might seem unbearable, hopeless, tiring, and honestly worrisome but we can do better. How do I know? Well I don't, but I see the potential and let's talk about why that is.
Personal Development & Responsibility
When it comes to living life, generally we tend to try and improve ourselves. We act responsible in how we want to grow whether good or bad. It is a part of who we are, and why we live each day as if it were our last. From my watching of Picard, I see the titular character and his friends having to deal with a wide range of threats. Most importantly, I see that they are always working on themselves.
They are imperfect, can be quick to anger, have relationship issues, and more. They revel in the past, but doesn't let it consume them, or at the very least consume them as much. It's about being accountable for their own actions, and how they deal with obstacles. It's seeing them having to make decisions that effects everyone, and reconciling.
If you're interested in personal development then think about what you're responsible for. It can be yourself, another human being, or anything. It can be even your pet, or a house. Whatever it is, learning that personal development and responsibility go hand-in-hand is important. It's important because that's when real growth happens for you as the person living life. You start to see that being responsible in your actions towards yourself, and others is the path towards true growth.
Understanding
What can you understand from this blog, or watching Picard? That growth, real growth can be measured in what we decide to be responsible for. That people can help point us in the right direction, but we can bring ourselves over the finish line. It's a matter of how we decide to bring ourselves over, and if we'll grow from that experience.
To grow is to understand how we got to where we are now. It's taking into account what we are responsible for vs. what we're not. Discerning between the two can be obvious, elusive, or even both. We can't always assign blame to ourselves for the circumstances outside of our control. It can be healthy to have an honest look of yourself without trying to put yourself down.
Being here in Michigan for a summer camp I'm helping with has given me that understanding of myself. It made me understand that I'm responsible for my health, my happiness, my finances, and my impact. I've always strive to understand myself and even I can confuse myself at times. Trust me, being as self-aware as I am can be a pain in the ass.
But I understand through helping my mentor with his nonprofit that I want to make the world a better place. That creating a future for the next generation is what I want to be responsible for. That teaching kids in middle school about game design, and digital arts gives me a sense of passion.
Ending With a Clear Idea
To end this blog, Picard has taught me the importance of responsibility and never losing hope. That we are about as imperfect as the next person, and we can't walk around thinking our shit don't stink.
We need to reconcile with ourselves, and each other. To recognize that our responsibilities are similar, but different. That living life is a continuous act of responsibility which never ends. We're always responsible for ourselves, for others, for our homes, and our communities.
Remember, to live a life worth living and to be responsible. If not for yourself, be responsible for your people, your homes, and your community.
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