“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you”

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Or alternatively, you don’t have to be a victim.  What am I talking about?  God only knows.  Because I have mulled this one around in my head over the weekend and it really doesn’t want to come out straight.  So I’ll give it a go and we can see where we get to……..are your ready?

You don’t like your job.  You chose it.  There are good bits and bad bits about every job.  You don’t like the bad bits then ask yourself do the good bits outweigh the bad bits?  Does the money justify the shit?  Do the perks justify the grind?

You don’t like your manager?  Fine, you have choices.  You can put up with it, you can move department, move company.  You can front it, talk to your manager and explain.

You have never liked your manager, you think all managers are incompetent?  Have you thought that this might be your problem and not theirs?  Is it likely that everyone you have worked for is incompetent or perhaps are you just never satisfied?  Here is a challenge for you, next time there is a promotion opportunity, put yourself forward.  You go and sit in the big seat for a while.  What’s that?  You don’t want to do the shit they have to deal with?  Interesting………..

Why the hell am I talking about this now?  Well (and this is where things get a little sticky in terms of narrative) it has a lot to do with the Iraq Inquiry in London.  I am no apologist for the war in any sense, but I spent a lot of time listening to the radio on Friday, as I drove to and from the pay negotiations, and quite frankly I am fed up with the bollocks being spouted.

To the mothers of dead servicemen, I am sorry for your loss, I cannot understand your grief, but I empathise.  However, your sons and daughters were paid to fight.  That was their job.  If it were down to me, we wouldn’t have war, but we do.  And unfortunately one of the consequences of war is death.  This may seem harsh, but did you think of the people who your son or daughter killed?  Did you think about their mothers?

To those who blame the war on Tony Blair.  Did you vote?  Did you protest?  Did you engage?  Or did you sit and home and expect the war to be over and done with in a couple of weeks because it was only Iraqis and they aren’t very well-developed are they?  And hey if we get a bit of oil out of it then what the hell…..now where did I put the paper?  And now conveniently lets turn and blame one person.  The big boy did it and ran away…………

And finally to all those who say, “politicians are all the same”.  We live in a democratic society.  Any one of us can engage in politics, anyone of us can join a party, debate, change a party, vote.  Any one of us can stand for parliament.  You get the politics and politicians you deserve.

Shut up the whingeing, stop the navel gazing, stop the hand wringing.  Take a little responsibility in your life.  Take ownership of your life whether it be at home or work or in society .  Stop blaming other people and take the first step to being free and take it today.  Because until you do, you will never, never, be at peace.