virgin islands scene

If we had no faults, we should not take pleasure in noting those of others.
-- Francois De La Rochefoucauld
 

 

Tuesday, July 13, 1999

Blame

Just because you’ve been wronged is no reason to do the wrong thing. In fact it is all the more reason to do the right thing. Just because there’s someone to blame for your troubles does not mean that you can end your troubles by hurting that other person.

No matter who is to blame for your problems, you are responsible for them. Revenge may be entirely justified, but it will rarely solve the problem.

Just as time does not proceed backwards, you cannot right a wrong by committing another wrong. Though punishment is often an appropriate and positive step, it cannot undo what has already been done.

The energy you put into blaming others for your problems takes away from the energy you have available to effectively address those problems. Don’t let the desire to assign blame detract you from making things right. You cannot move backwards, so put your energy into moving forward.

— Ralph Marston

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Copyright ©1999 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.