Entitled.

The dictionary defines it as “Believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.”

I’m sitting in the airport yesterday on my way back to Arizona. I look around and see sandwich wrappers left on tables and napkins crunched up. All within just a few steps of a trash can.

I can hear that inner voice in the head of the perpetrator,” No, no, no, someone ELSE will take care of this. After all, I’m superior!”

Where did this come from, and how did this happen?

When did we become a society of “Someone else will do that for me?”

At home, we battle it every day. Whether begging (yelling, really) one of my kids to pick up the towel they dropped on the floor (right below the hook) in the bathroom. Or close the drawer or door they just opened. Or feed the dog they BEGGED US TO HAVE!

Entitled.

Be careful. If left unchecked, soon they will become the person leaving sandwich bags on the table instead of the trash can. Or the person throwing the towel on the gym floor when there is a receptacle right there!

With my kids, we’re going to nip this in the bud. At home, do it or lose it.

After all, isn’t that life? You either do what needs to be done, or you don’t… get paid/advance in your career/benefit from a relationship, or so many other things.

In public, I believe in directness to wake people up.

“Sir, I believe you left your sandwich and other belongings behind…” I say.

To which I receive the look of “Really, what did I leave behind?”

YOUR GARBAGE, MORON!!

It’s unbelievable, and I simply don’t understand it.

Walk by a piece of trash, pick it up. Don’t wait. Don’t leave it to someone else.

I was just in London and marveled at how clean their streets were.

One morning, while on a tour with the tour guide, I asked him why the streets were so clean. He explained that during the IRA terrorist crisis, the terrorists were putting bombs in the trash cans. So, to alleviate this, they removed the trash cans.

And you know what? Londoners carry their trash until they find a bin to dispose of it. The same in Japan – each person understands they are responsible for throwing away their own trash or recycling responsibly.

What a concept.

Maybe we should do the same?

Or just take a little personal responsibility and take care of your things and YOUR business.

Realize that all is NOT someone else’s burden.

Personal responsibility—what a concept! It is not lost on me and will not be lost on my kids.

-J.D.