Taking Responsibility

There are many who fear that the world would go on completely unaffected if they were suddenly to leave. It’s a common claim made during depression, and usually untrue. But sometimes it’s sad how true people will let it get.

The world does not go on without people making decisions and acting upon them. These actions are hardly arbitrary–people take on responsibilities. Talk about kids all you want, but that means little until you’ve got a 2 week old in a cradle. Explain how you want to play an instrument but nothing happens until you feel it beneath your fingers. Talk is cheap, the world goes round by actions.

At their own choice, people avoid responsibilities like the plague. “I’m busy, I don’t have the time, I wouldn’t know how to do it well.” Well, I have news for you: if you don’t do it then it won’t get done. Or maybe it will, but don’t complain when it’s not how you like it. If you don’t take responsibilities on for yourself then your world will not be your own, and you will die without affecting people. Sad, isn’t it?

I’m not saying “carpe diem,” whether or not I feel that’s the right approach. I’m saying that nothing will happen if you don’t do it. Nothing.

Why mention this? I’ve been trying fairly hard to get lindy hop started up again here in Memphis. It’s working: we had almost 30 people at my dance last night. And I’m leaving all my work for my friends to continue the dance.

They want to continue dancing. But there will be no dancing, not if people don’t take the responsibility on for themselves. One can’t be timid or go half-way; one has to accept the responsibility.

And it’s not a terrible thing. When you do for yourself, a strange thing happens: you enjoy it when things end up exactly as you want them. Working hard for the dance community here as been ridiculously rewarding: meeting people, learning more about teaching, getting people interested in dance, turning a little profit, but most importantly, having a place to dance where it’s just about having a good time. That’s the kind of dance that I like, but there was nothing like that here. Now there is.

But this isn’t about me. Because, though I worked, it wasn’t terribly hard. Someone else could’ve done it. And from this point onward it only gets easier. It’s just a matter of getting past the initial stages, in whatever it is you take on. Then it becomes worthwhile and even enjoyable.

So go! Do what it is that you want to do, and take responsibilities on for yourself. It’s amazing how much you’ll enjoy it and affect those around you. People think you’re superhuman, but it’s just a little initiative you took. It’s nothing more.

Don’t be forgotten. Don’t let your world spin uncontrollably. Act!