Questions, Guilt, and Consequences = Thankful?

Shouldn't I know to give it up? 

Stop denying what I've done and stand up.

Shouldn't I know what this has caused?

Stop making mistakes and learn from what I've created. 

Our actions have consequences.

We can either be indifferent about this reality or, thankful.

I have fallen in love with songwriting. What I included above were lyrics that I came up with. While sitting outside my dorm-room, slouched on the floor, I started to understand consequences. Instead of dwelling, however, I chose to write a song. Though everyone should enjoy a creative outlet, I decided to take my writing to the next step. 

Songwriting in it of itself is exciting, but I decided to take the next step to write this article. Hopefully by the end I find a way to be thankful. By the end of the article, I might even have some answers to the questions from above.

Our actions lead to other actions and others' actions.

We don't always understand how many people we affect. When I began to neglect calling my mom or forgetting work projects, I realized how greatly others depend on my actions. Because of one action, that caused me to arrive home late, I fell asleep instead of following through with a phone call. Because of many promises, becoming either actions or commitments made to others, I began to fall behind in work. Attempting to maintain others' expectations is exhausting. 

Shouldn't I know to give it up?

Stop denying what I've done and stand up. 

Sometimes you have to keep yourself from acting. We should remove ourselves from any situation that pressures us into dismissive action. In such a case, one must stand up for him or herself. Confidently standing up for yourself requires tremendous responsibility. Take action for yourself and make a vow to yourself. Doing one thing for yourself can be a greater help than doing a lot of things for a lot of people - on occasion, alone time (to recharge) is the best way to truly become a giver.

Shouldn't I know what this has caused?

Stop making mistakes and learn from what I've created.

In Stephen Schwartz's Broadway musical, "Children of Eden", Eve sings a heart-wrenching melody to the generations following her. She begins the song, softly asking for forgiveness.


Children of Eden 
Try not to blame us
We were just human to error prone
Children of Eden
Will you reclaim us?

Eve made the first mistake. We, the generations to follow, must learn from the mistakes our forefathers, even grandfathers made. If we cannot look that far, hopefully we can look at our own mishaps and change. 

As the song progresses, Eve begins to see the children of the garden, hopefully listening to her advice. She continues insisting that like her and Adam, all humans are prone to error. We will all fall down at times, perhaps more than once. Eve seals the song,not questioning, but declaring the faith she has in the future generations.


Oh my precious children
If you think of us
Try not to blame us
We were just human to error prone
Children of Eden
YOU WILL RECLAIM US.
You and your children to come...

Schwartz so beautifully illustrates the story we all know too well - passing on our mistakes to not only our future children, but our future selves - but reinforces the confidence that Eve had when leaving the garden.


You will reclaim us.

Eve, like all mothers, had faith in her children. Despite the errors we make along the way, we mustn't place that onto others. Furthermore, we shouldn't allow our mistakes to pin OURSELVES down. 

We understand our mistakes - that is guilt or remorse, even a painful effect - why then do we not always learn?


My song lyrics came in the form of question/answer. 

Shouldn't I know to give it up?

Shouldn't I know what this has caused?

Why don't we learn? Thank G-d, I have more lyrics, offering the answers or some helpful tips to learn along the way (with hopefully a little less heartache).

Stop denying what you've done and stand up.

Stop making mistakes and learn from what you've created. 

If we all had the confidence in ourselves to stand up, we could learn. If we all had conviction in creation, we would take action seriously. Mistakes will inevitably happen along the way, but with thought, they may minimize. Or at least temporarily. 

We can be thankful for consequences if we learn.

Sitting outside my dorm-room, I was avoiding my roommate. I felt guilty for having forgotten her birthday. In attempt to avoid the guilt, I avoided any conversation with my roommate. 

'First you forget my birthday and now you ignore me?!'

You see the pattern here.

In avoiding consequences and trying to sweep them under the rug, things only snowball out of control. Facing our faults head on is scary. Admitting we were wrong is uncomfortable. Remembering past mistakes is painful.

We can be thankful for consequences when we learn.