The Circular Blame Game

Mike, his feet dangling above the city, opened his lunch box and groaned.

Todd, his friend, a fellow construction worker on the high-rise, pretended that he hadn't heard the groan.

Rick, more aggressive, asked, "Is it peanut butter and jelly again, Mike?"

"Yeah," said Mike, his voice heavy with frustration.

"Listen," said Todd, "You've been complaining about your sandwiches for weeks now."

"Right," chipped in Rick. "Why don't you just do something about it?"

"Sure," said Mike, sarcastically, and tossed away his sandwiches. He watched them make a lazy arc above the city and disappear from view.

"Now you're going to go hungry for the rest of the day,"said Rick. "It wasn't a smart move."

"Listen," said Todd, "I'm sick of hearing you bellyache every day. Why don't you just tell your old lady that you don't like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"What old lady?" asked Mike, surprised.

Todd and Rick glanced at each other. It was their turn to be surprised. "Come again?" they said in unison.

"I don't have an old lady. I'm single."

"Who makes your sandwiches?" asked Todd.

"I do," said Mike.

In this amusing story, we see something that almost everyone does. They blame circumstances and other people--for what they do to themselves. Because of the element of time between cause and effect, they forget that they did this to themselves.

People complain about their jobs; yet, they are the ones who agreed to be hired on.

They complain about their spouse or their friends. Yet they chose to be with these people.

They complain about their bank account, luck, or any other misery that they're experiencing. Yet they brought all those circumstances into creation.

So, unless a person decides to accept responsibility for where they're at and what's happening to them, things will continue to escalate out of control.

Change happens when we decide to make a different kind of sandwich.

Resource Box

Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 15 years ago and now resides in Denver, Colorado. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. discover how to create a remarkable life

Copyright 2005 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..
In The News:

Data removal from brokers protects against AI-powered scams and deepfake threats in 2026. Learn how data brokers sell your personal information to scammers.
Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.
Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country
Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.
Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.
OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.
A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.
Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.
ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.
ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.
Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.
DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.
Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Success Through Clear Dreams - I Do Not Want To Lie On My Death Bed Saying I Wish I Had Done That

Many UK citizens want to settle or retire in Spain... Read More

Animal Teachers Reveal Success Through Pleasure

What the anteater and otter show us about success?It's been... Read More

What Constitutes a Good Life?

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The... Read More

Is Success About Money?

Success could be just about making money, but I think... Read More

Evaluating Your Associations (Part Two)

Two weeks ago we took a look at the power... Read More

The Fuel That Drives The Ultimate Lifestyle

In a recent article (What is The Ultimate Lifestyle), I... Read More

Busy, Busy, Busy

Being busy has become a way of life for many... Read More

Learning From Failure--What To Do When You Blow It!

Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Have A Theraputic Meltdown

Have a therapeutic meltdown It's crunch time: you're two days... Read More

Success Lessons I Learned From My Single Mom

I was at a dinner party the other night when... Read More

10 Critical Success Clues

I don't need to be a gypsy fortune teller to... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Get Your Act Together

Get your act together Make sure that you have all... Read More

7 Dynamic Strategies for Creating a Life that Works

Everyone wants a life that works effectively, whether that means... Read More

Success: 11 Universal Laws to Get You There

The Law of Experience"Success comes from good judgement; good judgement... Read More

Believing in a Better Lifestyle

How many of you have ever thought about the link... Read More

Sentenced to Success

I once heard a speaker use the statement, "I have... Read More

Who Else Wants to Keep Failing?

Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More

7 Things You Can Do To Reach The Success You Truly Desire

Ever have those days where no matter what you try... Read More

All Life Wishes to Reward Its Benefactors

(Excerpted from the 1999 Weekend Seminar audio/CD series)Parents, leaders, employers,... Read More

Vision -- What Are You Doing Today Towards Achieving Your Vision?

Every man who accomplishes things sees first in his mind... Read More

Universal Success Secrets Shared

Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem... Read More

Paying Attention

Being a spiritual teacher has continually frightened me. Not because... Read More

Life Lesson--Be, Do, Have

This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More

A Pyramid of Success

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More

Success: 10 Tips to Make Failure Work for You

1)Failure is normal.Everyone has faced failure. Some people talk about... Read More

insured cleaning company Wilmette ..