Think of a fantastic meal – with lots of calories and maybe some other trimmings like cholesterol and fried food.
We all know what the implications are. And we all make our own decisions each time we’re confronted with a situation like this. The decision could be,
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taste a bit of each,
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refrain from the obvious no-no’s,
eat as if the “restrictions” our doctors/spouses/parents/conscience admonish us for are not serious – or
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pig out completely.
Whatever decision we make is valid. My question is: do we take responsibility for it?
And that begs the question of what does it mean to take responsibility?
Response – as opposed to reaction – is thought out. This means that
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ALL of the results of the decision we are considering are clear.
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we fully understand the LONG TERM benefits and damage that the decision we are considering may cause to ourselves and/or to others.
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We have at least the intuition of an action plan to either correct the damage or use the benefits.
In real terms, this means that if I am temped to consume 10,000 calories of scrumptious giant creamed steak with a pile of potatoes au gratin down it with a few pints of beer, finish off with an assortment of chocolate truffles and crepes and cakes, with some apple pie ala mode for variety, and cap it with some good French Brandy – I should know how I am going to get rid of that extra calorie intake. How many push-ups and how many miles of jogging, for how many days, and what will my diet look like for how long – just to compensate for that fabulous meal.
If this isn’t all thought out, before I take the first bite, then the decision is not responsible – just reactive.
