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I'm guilty of it. Everybody is at some time or another. Irresponsibility, inaction, lack of responsibility, covering up. No matter what you call it, we've all skipped out of our obligations at one time or another. Face it, we're all human. But overall, I would like to think that I take responsibility not only for my actions, but my inactions as well.

Just because we have the opportunity to use electronic glitches to our advantage; "I didn't get the voice-mail," "My e-mail spam filter kicked out your message" - We need to take responsibility. Be it at work or in our personal lives or in whatever the social interaction may be, we must 'step up to the plate' and be responsible.

If we have children, we need to have the guts to tell them no on occasion. It may hurt their feelings, but in the long run it will make them stronger, better human beings. If they mis-behave, we need to own up to that and pay for the broken window or have them apologize to someone they've mistreated. Parents need to take the responsibility of raising the children they have brought into this world. If you want to act adult about having a relationship with your spouse, lover, significant other, you need to act adult about the consequences.

If we screw up at work, face up to it. Don't blame it on the other guy. I have found that a simple truth usually allows everyone to move on so much quicker than a cover-up. I've never been fired for an honest mistake or oversight. And it's certainly hard for people to really get mad at you when you make an honest effort to take the responsibility and resolve to move ahead.

Lastly, take responsibility with yourself. If you have poor health due to overweight, exercise. Diet alone won't work. If you feel you sit around a bit much in front of the TV or video games, get up and do something for someone else. Volunteer, read to the elderly in a home, go to a museum, walk around the block and greet your neighbors, clean up around the house, help your mother with the dishes, your father with the lawn, your brother or sister with their homework or chores.

You'll feel better about yourself and others. Others will feel better about you and you will not only be responsible for what you currently have, you will begin to be given more responsibility.

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