It Isn't My Turn

In almost any circle or society, in almost any group or gathering, or among families or friends, there are almost always some who do their share or more, and some who seem to be afraid that they might do more than their share. In any activity or undertaking, there are almost always some who shift their share of work and pacify their inner accusations with a wide variety of excuses. In a household, for example, there may be some who say to themselves that they are more weary than others—or that the many monotonous, tiresome, routine tasks that constantly require attention to keep a house in running order are after all the work of mothers mostly, or of some other one person for whom a heavy load is left; or there may be some who say to themselves that their own particular comfort or rest or relaxation is more important than that of others, and that they shouldn’t unduly disturb themselves to answer the numerous calls that come or be too concerned with all the interruptions and intrusions upon the household’s rest and peace and privacy. There are some who care for countless details and some who can’t be bothered with the ten thousand things that have to be done in every home. There are some who give themselves willingly to every task and others who are willing to let the willing horse work, and who soothe themselves with the assumption that they have in some rationalized way already done more than their share, or comfort themselves with the time-worn phrase: “It isn’t my turn.” (One sometimes wonders if there are those who would let the house burn down because it wasn’t their turn to do anything about it!) When we are unduly fearful of doing too much, or when we are too cautiously concerned about taking only our turn, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we could imagine a mother’s neglecting some one of us in illness because it wasn’t her turn to sit up another night. The philosophy of being afraid of doing too much is an impediment to happiness and plenty of progress. The real work and service of the world are done in great measure by people who don’t worry too much about taking only their turn.