Warning:
For those suffering from crap sensitivity or a hyperactive resistance to fecal references, this article is not for you. Clearly, the title and content are a steaming pile of duplicitous-meaning words. For those with a healthy sense of humor and desire to learn, though, don your rubber overalls and wade on in. Remember that all work and no play is just crappy. Bonus points to those who count and catch the total number of satirical references in this post!
Say What?
The Cambridge Dictionary explains that the verb mind means to “take care or be careful about” whereas duty means “something you must do because it is morally or legally right or as part of your job.” Taken together, then, the common idiom “mind your duty” simply means to be careful to fulfill one’s responsibilities and to do the right thing. I think we can all agree that this is a constructive expression, encouraging people to be diligent in executing the tasks set before them.
However, just as the verb mind can be interpreted as being hard-working toward something, it can also be understood to mean being cautious about something, as in “mind that first step, it’s a doozie.” There are also multiple connotations of the word duty that could be applied to this situation…but I believe enough of the groundwork here has been laid.
Worth A Thousand Words
So, about the photo. A little backstory is perhaps in order. For those of you who have followed my work, you’ve probably seen multiple references to the fact that I live in rural Kentucky, have a homestead, and regularly encounter tractors, horse carriages, and other farming implements in my proverbial neck of the woods.
On this particular day, my wife and I had headed into town and she was driving her truck. Snug in the passenger seat beside her, I watched the taillights of the vehicle before us glow bright as we came to a stop in one of the left-hand turning lanes, halted by a red light in the largest intersection in our town. My window was down and a certain smell pierced the air so, naturally, I turned to identify its source. There, to my immediate right, I saw a cattle trailer stopped directly beside us.
Now, observing livestock transport is nothing new to me but the orientation of these cows within my field of vision was quite startling. There, only feet away, and perched somewhat higher than my window, stood a solid row of cattle buttocks with their tails swishing, pointed directly at me. What’s more, it appeared that their orientation allowed them to provide a rather thick and hearty coating that streaked all along the side of the trailer.
It was not a moment in which I felt particularly safe. But, after quickly raising my window and snapping a picture of the comical moment, I began thinking about just how important it is that we mind our duty.
A Slippery Slope
Hindsight’s 20/20 so it became apparent to me that there were times when my duty was neglected. Indeed, the reasons were numerous. I recalled moments when the going was tough, so to speak, and this caused me to struggle in achieving my goals. Valuable time was wasted until I mustered within myself the drive to simply push.
At other moments, I became distracted and shifted my focus to trivial things. There is a temptation when we are lax to simply paper over our problems but this can drain us in the end. Being perfectly honest, I must admit that some tasks I was called to do, some rooms in which I could not rest, were simply unpleasant and therefore avoided.
Beyond dealing with this myself, I noticed similarly pungent patterns also surface in others, floating to the top of their expressions or constipating their productivity. For this reason, I determined not to take other people’s crap, refusing to tolerate either my own or other people’s BS. After all, given enough time, you begin to smell like what you’re around.
Who’s The Feller?
In things both business and personal, it is therefore critical to recognize the source of the problem. After all, is this my duty or yours? Should I even give a crap? The answers to these questions are both complex and simple, depending upon how you digest the elements of your challenge. But finding the source of the hang-up can only lead to improved performance.
Practically speaking, this means stomaching tasks that receive no recognition or praise. It means plunging through situations for which you are not paid. It means helping others with strong moral fiber when there’s no noticeable benefit in it for yourself. It means using both feet to jump into someone else’s mess because you can and you should. This is simply doing your duty.
Put It To Use
It’s very important to clear room each morning for the things that must be done. And, likewise, emptying yourself and your schedule of waste at the end of the day grants an amazing sense of relief. Yes, doing these things can be unpleasant, but they are often necessary. Clearing obstructions and leveraging weaknesses often leads to greater strength and regularity.
So, like those cows, we all have opportunities to take crap and give a crap. But neither have to be a bad thing. It might just be that the ordeal you are trudging through is the fertilizer that triggers growth in your emotions, career, and relationships. Don’t fear it; use it. After all, one man’s crap is another man’s treasure. And it is up to each of us to ensure that, when the call sounds, we do our duty.
