Excuses

first saw the picture above in a fellow blogger and writer (Christiana's) album on Facebook and it struck a chord with me. Not just because I'd been getting so many ridiculous excuses from people of late but also because I'd started giving them too.

While my exonerating statements paled in comparison to those I heard from the people who owe me money or commit to do things, they still perturbed me and left me in a really strange head space. 

I think many excuses are given out of laziness and a complete lack of respect for the other party, their time and their feelings. My excuses on the other hand were/are borne from my inability to say no. Oftentimes I find it really difficult to decline when asked to do something for others (to my own detriment) so end up in situations I could have avoided but didn't just to please people.

Lately I've been trying to break the cycle. Admittedly, it's been very difficult - I'm not sure if it's been harder for me or those who have met my newly found forthrightness but its been a severe learning curve. The friends who have stuck with me through this transitionary period I value even more and the ones that haven't, I'm appreciative of what we had but thankful for ridding myself of the excess baggage along the journey that is my life.

"Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure."

Failure is something no one enjoys but it can be beneficial as you learn from it. One of my biggest fears growing up was failure and it was really unhealthy. In the words of Frederick Smith "fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something", otherwise how can you celebrate if you succeed or learn if you lose?

I want the proverbial house that is my life (in addition to my tangible future house) to be built of strong stuff, thus, the excuses have to stop. I can't say that I'll never give another excuse in my life, afterall I'm only human. But I'm far more aware of them now that they temporarily pervaded my discourse and so I'm making an attempt to stop.

I'll leave you with a quote that I really like and ask...do you make a lot of excuses and if so, why/under what circumstances?

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

- Colin Powell

[Note: the quote in the picture above is said to be by Don Wilder and Bill Rechin]