Everyone says: “milk,” “meat,” “cheese”… but the cow doesn’t give any of those things willingly.
If you want milk, you have to wake up early, bring the bucket, and milk her.
If you want meat, you have to raise her, care for her, and then make a hard decision.
The only thing the cow gives without you doing anything is… manure.
And that’s how life works too.
You don’t get what you want just because you deserve it. No one shows up to hand you success, inner peace, or wisdom.
If you want something, you have to get off the fence and act.
You have to choose. You have to insist. You have to be present.
This seemingly simple question — “What does the cow give?” — is a reminder that nothing truly valuable comes without your involvement.
And when we don’t act, all we get is whatever’s given by default.
I admit, It can be a bit confusing — how do you actually know if you’re taking responsibility for what’s going on in your life? For what’s missing, and for what’s already there?
Even knowing all of this, I still have moments where my mind manufactures excuses and loads of “evidence” for why something isn’t my responsibility.
An argument with my partner?
“Well, he’s doing this…”
A struggle with my daughter?
“She just won’t listen!”
Or an event I had no control over — like losing my parents —
“Why do I deserve all this pain?”
Responsibility is a scary word for some. It’s often avoided because it sounds like you’re the only one to blame.
But responsibility isn’t about blame.
It’s about how you choose to respond.
How you choose to adapt.
How you choose to be in the face of what life presents.
Take my daughter. My frustration comes from the expectation that she does what I want, how I want, when I say so. I forget she’s a growing human who’s meant to explore and test boundaries.
So how do I take responsibility?
I become aware of that expectation… and I let it go.
If you’ve seen the movie Click, expectations and upsets can be just like that remote Adam Sandler couldn’t get rid of.
They snap right back into your hand. Into your mind. Into your awareness.
So what do you do?
You notice — again — take ownership and let go — again.
That’s responsibility.
It can be confusing to pinpoint exactly where we’re avoiding responsibility. But here’s a clue:
Listen for the thoughts or statements that seem to excuse you entirely —
“But I couldn’t help it!”
“There was traffic!”
“I had no choice!”
These are the moments when the mind rushes in to exonerate us, to protect our self-image.
But even in situations beyond your control, responsibility isn’t about blame. It’s about what you choose to do once you’re aware.
Like realising you’re going to be late — and taking a moment to send a message, to take ownership of your impact, rather than slipping into victimhood.
It’s in those tiny decisions that we reclaim our power.
That we stop waiting for life to hand us something — and start showing up to co-create it.
Because here’s the truth:
You’ve got the most powerful computer in the world between your ears.
Pay attention to what you put into it.
What comes out is directly shaped by what you feed it.
There’s nothing more precious on this earth (besides the health of your body) than your mind.
Without it, nothing else works.
So…
What do you really want from life?
And what are you actually willing to do — or let go of — to get closer to it?
We’re wired for survival, to protect ourselves from harm. But responsibility doesn’t bring harm — it brings courage, strength, joy, and a deep sense of honour that feeds the soul.
Because the manure?
That comes either way.
Everything else — that’s yours to create.
—Sharon🙂