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Life taught me. I could say some of my life was bad but that would be a lie. I have made NO mistakes in life, I have only had lessons. Some of those lessons were not learned quickly and I was allowed to repeat them.

As for being responsible these days, I am human and therefore subject to human error. I am no angel and I do not walk on water or part seas. Every day I wake up sucking air. My responsibility for that day is to do whatever possible to help another human being..

I was on my own at barely 16,so I had to grow up fast.Then I really became responsible when I had my 1st baby.I no longer was selfish,he came 1st.I jad to budget money and make decision is it the sniffles or more?I thought I grew up the 3 yrs. before he was born,no wrong.Mylife really changed and for the better.

"Patches" was the 1st 45 rpm record I ever owned..great song. I can't remember the flip side....

Finally realizing I cannot drink alcohol..it will be 8 years tomorrow when I decided to pour out my last 2 beers after a 70 beer binge.

"Patches" was the 1st 45 rpm record I ever owned..great song. I can't remember the flip side....

Finally realizing I cannot drink alcohol..it will be 8 years tomorrow when I decided to pour out my last 2 beers after a 70 beer binge.

Life taught me. I could say some of my life was bad but that would be a lie. I have made NO mistakes in life, I have only had lessons. Some of those lessons were not learned quickly and I was allowed to repeat them.

As for being responsible these days, I am human and therefore subject to human error. I am no angel and I do not walk on water or part seas. Every day I wake up sucking air. My responsibility for that day is to do whatever possible to help another human being..

Very good Pat!

Funny, I have found myself repeating circumstances when I did not learn what I should have learned the first go round!

So, in all actuality...

We breathe, learn lessons...

For a PURPOSE???

That we may LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!!!!!Yeah, I LIKE THAT!!!

Like the saying goes....

''Don't wait for anybody to bring you flowers,plant your own garden.''

Life's experiences has made me more responsible.

I was born a type one diabetic. I learned to give myself my insulin injections when i WAS 8 YEARS OLD. MY MOM STARTED TO TEACH ME TO COOK ABOUT THE SAME TIME. ALSO MADE ME COMPPASSIONED TO OTHERS.51 AND STILL ALIVE AND KICKING.

Sinse I was a little boy when I was very ill, I always told my mom that I be ok. Still care about other people. Volunter at an assisted living home, play bingo and talk and make them laugh. I get more out of it then they do.

Today I listened to this song. It gave me the idea for this thread.

I would like you to read it and then answer the question at the end.
The song is called "Patches" by Clarence Carter.

I was born and raised down in Alabama
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged that folks used to call me Patches
Papa used to tease me about it
'Cause deep down inside he was hurt
'Cause he'd done all he could

My papa was a great old man
I can see him with a shovel in his hands, see
Education he never had
He did wonders when the times got bad
The little money from the crops he raised
Barely paid the bills we made

For, life had kicked him down to the ground
When he tried to get up
Life would kick him back down
One day Papa called me to his dyin' bed
Put his hands on my shoulders
And in his tears he said

He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you

Two days later Papa passed away, and
I became a man that day
So I told Mama I was gonna quit school, but
She said that was Daddy's strictest rule

So ev'ry mornin' 'fore I went to school
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes I felt that I couldn't go on
I wanted to leave, just run away from home
But I would remember what my daddy said
With tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed

He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
I tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest

Then one day a strong rain came
And washed all the crops away
And at the age of 13 I thought
I was carryin' the weight of the
Whole world on my shoulders
And you know, Mama knew
What I was goin' through, 'cause

Ev'ry day I had to work the fields
'Cause that's the only way we got our meals
You see, I was the oldest of the family
And ev'rybody else depended on me
Ev'ry night I heard my Mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to face another day

So years have passed and all the kids are grown
The angels took Mama to a brand new home
Lord knows, people, I shedded tears
But my daddy's voice kept me through the years

Sing
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you

Oh, I can still hear Papa's voice sayin'
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
I've tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest

I can still hear Papa, what he said
Patches...


This song speaks of circumstances which caused this young man to suddenly become RESPONSIBLE, in an overwhealming amount.
Please share a story of a circumstance in which you learned how to be more Responsible.

I know that going thru life is like walking on stepping stones... each one takes us further down the path and we learn and grow as we walk along. Many experiences have taught us to become responsible. In many experiences, our lack of responsibility also teaches us, as we learn from our mistakes. Those stories are welcome also.

Share how you believe this experience helped you grow into being more responsible.

But I think the most overwhelming time......the time when everything culminated and came to a head..... was in March of 1992, when I suddenly and unexpectantly woke up blind one morning. Twenty-two days later and after a battery of tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In the meantime, I had a reaction to one of the medications they had included in the continuous IV Solu- medrol I was on, which caused me to have seizures, and I soon lost the use of my legs. After a few months of 'digesting' the severity of my illness, intensive drug therapy to 'heal' my optic nerve, and intensive physical therapy (which wound up lasting almost 18 months) to get me mobile again......I suddenly realized I had some serious decision making to do. And I had to do it all ON MY OWN! The facts were clear.....here I was......38 years old with three beautiful children at home, ages 5, 7, and 9.......married to a severe alcoholic who was more of a detriment than an asset to the emotional, mental, and physical well being of my children and myself. I had a decent career teaching primary school children.......if I could just get myself 'healthy' again I hoped and prayed we could make it on our own. It was time for me to toughen up and truly take responsibility not only for my children, but also for myself. Long story short......it took two more years before I was able to break free of the nightmare......the nightmare that I too take my share of responsibility for because I was a classic case of co-dependant. It wasn't pleasant through the divorce or the years when the children were still minors. But here I am 14 years later...... and my children too......and we are all survivors because we took responsibilty.

I for one will always be........forever a work in progress.