Playing the Blame Game: A Minute of Mindfulness Post

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Published on Oct 11, 2023

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I don't know about you, but I've been noticing alot lately that people have this incessant need to place blame for their lot in life or any other bad thing that happens to them.

I'm not talking about the big things or the elephants in the room right now, it's even the little everyday things that people just can't seem to handle.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes there is absolutely someone to blame for the horrible things that are happening in this world, but then again, sometimes crappy things just happen.

I'd be lying if I said it doesn't seem to be generational. It absolutely does. I also don't want to imply that we were once made of tougher stuff, but this need to play the blame game just feels like you are handcuffing yourself.

I was reading a news story the other day where someone got hit on the side of the road. There was a lot more to the story of course, but the part that really stuck out to me was the fact that the parents of the girl that got hit were suing the driver that hit her.

Just for a little bit of background, I'm pretty sure the girl that got hit was drunk, so there was some deficit there. Meanwhile this door dash driver is minding his own business when suddenly this drunk lady stumbles out in front of him. He stopped, he called 911. He honestly did nothing wrong.

Yet the parents are suing the bar that over served their daughter (okay, I can maybe see that), and this driver. I've never lost anyone like that, so I probably should just keep my mouth back, but it's not going to bring her back, is it really going to make you feel better to ruin someone elses life? Will you feel vindicated? Validated?

I was having a conversation with someone the other day and I was really struck by the fact that people can't seem to handle the fact that life isn't fair. It's just something that they can't wrap their heads around.

Perhaps it's just the fact that he world is so broken these days. People are looking for a shred of fairness anywhere they can find it. I don't know, but it's a crutch that isn't doing anyone any good in my opinion.

I challenge you in your future conversations, really listen and see just how much people play the blame game. I'm sure I do it myself. Maybe it's always been this way. Perhaps now that I am older I just notice it more.

Additionally, maybe I am wrong to just accept the fact that sometimes crappy things happen. Perhaps if we were all a bit more worried about "fairness" this world would be a better place.

Yeah, I'm not buying that either.

This weeks Minute of Mindfulness comes to you from the Tahquamenon River in the upper peninsula of Michigan. This is what is considered the lower portion of the falls and it's only recently that the view you have above became accessible.

There is a small island that sits between two branches of the river with falls on either side of it. In the past you had to use a rowboat to get to this island, but recently they built a pedestrian bridge so anyone can access it.

I've been to these falls dozens of times through my life and this was the first time I can remember having a view from the other side of the island.

Perhaps next time we are starting down the path of playing the blame game we can take a quick minute and evaluate what we are really wanting or needing in that moment.

Will our next thought or sentence fix the situation or change it? What would this world be like if we could bypass the bitterness and resentment and just live each moment knowing life is unpredictable.