Friday, September 30

Excuses, Excuses

Ever notice how when something goes wrong, or you don't do what you're asked, or don't meet a deadline, or some such failure you will typically have a "reason." Now this is no ordinary "argument" for why you coulda/shoulda/woulda but didn't. This "defense," which originated from deep within the right side of your brain, will in your thinking give a very vague answer to why you did(n't do) what you did(n't), and thereby solve the problem, and leave you not in "hot water" and feeling good about yourself. In the real world this "reason," or "defense" finds a better definition in "justification" or "rationalization." It simply is the result of you making an excuse...trying to rationalize and justify your (in)action(s) with a well-thought-out EXCUSE.

One other purpose in making excuses lies in a simple trait of humans. Generally, you want to feel good about yourself, whether it's how you look, act, or (more typically) how others see you. Thus an excuse is needed to show someone else (boss, officer, spouse, or friend) that you really wanted to do what they wanted/needed/expected you to do, but just couldn't. However good your explanation may be, your "feeling good" must measure up to one hurdle...the acceptance of the one making the excuse to. If they don't accept the reason you made for what you did(n't do) you feel just as bad as you did when trying to come up with that pitiful attempt to regain favor.

The irony of it all comes from the blatant simplicity of the whole usage of excuses. Most everything I've said above could be told you by any normal thinking adult...yet still, since Adam and Eve we make excuses and try to make ourselves look better when we fail to meet up to a previously set standard. It's all human nature...pre-programmed in from the factory...and there's no re-writing it (though it can be modified and adapted...).

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