Forgot an appointment? To pay a bill? A birthday?
Mess up on the job? At home?
Mean to your husband? Wife? Kid? Friend?
It wasn’t really your fault….no, no, no!
Just make an excuse and get out of it.
Need a few good ones?
- My computer crashed.
- I didn’t see your voicemail.
- Your email was in my junk mail.
- I forgot about our plans.
- The zombies made me do it (which is better than “The dog ate my homework.”)
All of these–minus the last one–are valid reasons for not doing something, but let’s be honest:
We’ve all used good, valid reasons to excuse poor, inexcusable behavior.
Accepting responsibility is taboo. No one likes to be wrong or admit their mistakes. I get it. I don’t like to be wrong or admit my mistakes.
Owning up to our shortcomings is on the list with filing taxes and going to the dentist.
Guess what?
If I don’t file my taxes, the IRS won’t pet my head and say, “No problem, Ms. Kennedy, we understand that this isn’t fun for you. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
If I don’t go to the dentist, my teeth will fall out and I’ll look like all the rednecks on the news….(this is why I choose to go to the dentist, btw. I have an irrational fear of being a stereotypical redneck.)
Shut down the excuse factory. Tell the truth. Face the consequences. And then move on.
You’ll never learn and grow from your shortcomings if you don’t admit you have them.
audra gayle 