Taking Command of Your Life

Today, May 31st, has been designated, "Memorial Day." The origins of Memorial Day, originally called "Decoration Day," are unclear. It seems to have begun spontaneously in a number of areas, primarily as a day of remembrance for those who have died in our wars, dating back to the "Civil War." Over the years, it has been extended to become a day to tend to the final resting places of those we have cared about. Currently, for most, it is one of our paid holidays; a day off from our responsibilities/jobs. There are, however, those who are tending new graves of those killed in our newest wars.

What does this holiday have to do with responsibilities toward ourselves? It has, primarily, to do with our relinquishing our responsibilities toward ourselves and our lives, for, we have been convinced, overriding responsibilities; to country, to freedom, to "our way of life." I remember an old wartime saying, "Mine not to reason why, mine is to do, or die!"

We, in wartime, become robots, relinquishing our right to think, and/or question what we are doing. In the '60's many young, and not so young, individuals woke up from their sleep states, and started to question and protest the reasons they were expected to support and/or fight a war in Vietnam, a place most had never heard of, let alone had any idea where it was.

Once again, we are at war--two wars--having been suckered into invading other countries by a false-flag event. 9-11-2001! The morning of September 11th, 2001, I fully expected martial law to be declared in this country. Finally, once again, many people are beginning to wake up from their induced state of non-thinking; questioning and rebelling against what they have been told is "Truth/Fact."

Is one of your beliefs, the right to question authority? One of the definitions of "authority" is, "Power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior;" also, "Persons in Command." As indicated previously in any earlier post, people who have power over us, also have the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

From our embodiment, and throughout our lives, we are expected and/or required to relinquish authority over ourselves, in every way, by those who have power over us. Frequently, those who have power over us are people we love and/depend upon to nourish any amount of self-esteem we have gathered. Most others, who have power over us, have the ability to punish us for not submitting to their control over our behavior--lost wages, lost prestige, loss of friendship, loss of membership in a community of some kind, etc., etc.

Deciding to take responsibility for yourself, instead of continually giving it away to others, whether or not in a position of "authority" over us, will take courage. It is somewhat easier if you are not in a situation where you believe the responsibilities you have taken on prevent you from becoming responsible for yourself. We have been conditioned to believe that doing anything for ourselves is "selfish!"

What does it mean "to be responsible for yourself", anyway?

In the small period of time between when we have, "become an adult," more or less, and the time we begin to have a family, build a career, join a branch of the military, etc., some may experience a little bit of time when he/she is just responsible for him/herself. Those who refuse to join the ranks of the entangled, are looked down upon as: rebels, outlaws, black sheep, selfish, etc., etc. For example, just the act of not getting married, will bring down upon that person all kinds of social pressure.

I am not suggesting that being responsible for yourself, is equivalent to opting out of life. It is not! Being responsible for yourself is taking control of your life. The vast majority of people in this world have, at least they believe they have, very little control over what they think, do, do not do, where they go, what career/kind of work/activities they spend their time at, etc., etc.

The more responsibility you take for various aspects of who your are, the more alive you will feel. It is an act of power!

With that statement, I end my ruminations for this day.

Shirley Gallup