Driving down the highway the other day I saw a sign that read “Road under construction – Drive Slow”.
There are an abundance of signs on the highway: “Curve Ahead, Bump, Slippery when wet.” Sometimes what the highways department does, instead of eliminating the difficult places, simply puts up a sign. The sign, supposed to be a temporary warning until the road is repaired, sometimes becomes a permanent installation. Local people know the spot is there and eventually just accepts it and travellers can read the sign. The government has therefore fulfilled all their responsibilities. If you get hurt or develop car troubles, well, the sign was there to warn you to slow down.
It’s bad enough with road signs. It’s worse when this very technique is utilized to cover the unrepaired places in our own lifes. Many people think all they need do is warn others about their less commendable traits and they’ve got it covered.
“I have trouble getting along with people”
” I have a terrible temper”
“That’s just the way I am. People will just have to accept me for who and what I am.”
“It’s not my fault.”
Whatever the warnings we put out to others, they actually mean “We are taking no responsibility for this trait of mine and feel no obligation to do anything about it. We are freely admitting to a shortcoming and don’t hesitate in announcing to the world we are not going to change it. “That’s the way I am and I’m going to leave it that way.”
Winners know they can’t and won’t accept their shortcomings. They are constantly working to improve every area of their lives. You will never hear a winner say “That’s the way I am”.
Winners are always under construction. Their signs are temporary. In place only until the necessary tools are gathered to fix the problem area.
Winners will always take full responsibility for themselves, for their decisions, for their present situation and for their future, replacing “That’s the way I am” with “that’s who I’m going to be.”
To your success during the construction of you,
Joyce Penner
