Not my fault

We are all born with distinctive traits that make us uniquely us. There has never been another me and there never will be again. That is a pretty cool thing to think about.

Unfortunately, for all of the good feelings that can bring, it also brings about handicaps, both obvious and not.

A person born to a single parent may have disadvantages that someone in a healthy, two-parent home does not. Then again, someone in an abusive nuclear family may find that issues arise as a result of their upbringing. Perhaps an alcoholic parent never taught you to work hard, or maybe you were born without your left hand, or maybe you are unattractive, or maybe you are too tall to have a chance at making the Olympic gymnastic team, or maybe you are a woman and your career is likely to be interrupted during your child-rearing years.

You have handicaps, same as me. Some are your fault, some aren’t. But it is not my fault, either. Or the fault of your employer. Or the admissions team at your dream school. Or your spouse. Or your kids. Or anyone.

Life has never led to equal outcomes for everyone, ever, at any point in history or in any geographical location. Don’t expect utopia in a world where another reality reigns. And don’t expect others to pay you – with money, opportunities, second chances, handouts or otherwise – at their own expense for your handicaps that aren’t their fault.