Teach all men to fish, but first, teach all men to be fair. Take less give more. Give more of yourself, take less from the world. Nobody owes you anything, you owe the world everything. — Suzy Kassem
Do you think your friends or relatives or the government owe you anything?
I mean it is normal to expect loyalty, love and support. But once you become an adult, technically or legally speaking, no one owes you anything. No entity; individual, community, government or organisation owes you anything. Actually, the world will sway you away from your goals with distractions. Because every individual and every organization is selfish, including you and me. And that is actually a good thing. you see, for their own survival and expansion, being selfish is actually good for them (or us).
In fact, because everyone has their own values and priorities, they will always be trying to fulfil those priorities. Sometimes even if it means that their priority is to take a nap and not go with you or help you with your most pressing need. No one owes you their time. You have to learn to let them take that nap. That is called self-respect and also respect for other’s time and space and their decisions.
I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet – Helen Keller
There is no ‘moral obligation’ from someone that you can wait upon to come and rescue you. As an adult, you are on your own, first and foremost. If you think that your adult children owe you anything, you are living in a fantasy. This depends from culture to culture. I mean you are lucky if they fulfil their obligations. I believe even our children are not ours when we look at the bigger picture of life. And this may be shocking at face value. But think about it, children come through parents who are responsible for their survival and growth and development till they become adult. Once they become adult they can think and take care of themselves.
Adults can vote, obtain a driving license, can choose their own partners and location. Your adult children don’t owe you anything; if they give you anything, consider it a bonus. The reverse is also true, you don’t owe anything to your adult children who are physically capable. Again, it depends from culture to culture. But if you have been a responsible and loving parent, the positive outcome will be inevitable.
As individuals and aware adults, the sooner we realise and accept this, the better our life will be. Learn self-reliance and interdependence, not dependence. Know your goals and priorities and move ahead with or without others on your side.
I learned from a very young age that no one owes you anything and nobody’s gonna give you a damn thing. But you can have anything you want if you work hard enough for it – Branch Warren