Doing my duty was drilled into me as a child. This mandate was so impenetrable that it’s taken me forever to back off a bit. I am, as one of my friends told me, a “rule follower.”
Merriam-Webster offers a sweeping definition:
1 : conduct due to parents and superiors: respect
… filial duty and obedience …—John Locke
2 a : obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one’s position (as in life or in a group)
was their duty to support their family
Her primary duty at the meeting was to take attendance.
performs a variety of administrative duties
b(1) : assigned service or business
was put on kitchen duty
(2) : active military service
returning from duty overseas
(3) : a period of being on duty
report for duty at 7 a.m.
3 a : a moral or legal obligation
felt it was their duty to help
b : the force of moral obligation
will be ready when duty calls
4 : tax
especially : a tax on imports
a 15 percent duty
5 a : work sense 1c
b(1) : the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions
(2) : functional application : use
got double duty out of the trip
(3) : use as a substitute
… making the word do duty for the thing …—Edward Sapir
That’s a long list! I’ve functioned in all of these types of duties except military service.
DUTY GUIDANCE HAMMERED INTO ME
Society and family made sure that doing my duty was second nature to me by filling my head with the following:
The Holy Bible (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
Interestingly, my Girl Scout Handbook from the 1960s states:
On my honor, I will try:
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help people at all times,
To obey the Girl Scout Laws.
Federal Employee Oath Of Office
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear the true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me, God.
THE DUTY MANDATE SUCKS
This year has been an interesting one for me. I’m finally rebelling and dumping duties that I thought I needed to continue. I’ve moved away from community volunteer responsibilities and am only participating in groups where I haven’t offered to help. Ie: I go for fun and socializing.
I realize this sounds harsh, but I feel it’s my turn to coast a bit.
Feeling empowered, I’m now eyeing duties around the house to knock off my list. I’ve hired someone to clean my house twice a month, and someone to occasionally work around the ranch.
Sadly, I haven’t found a way to get rid of all my duties. Sigh. Today I put the new stickers on the car, fed the hummingbirds, and thought about watering the plants. (I’ll have to act on the plants soon, or they’ll die.)
In a stubborn act of defiance, I am refusing to remove the carcass of a dead scorpion from my office floor. I just look at it every time I pass the nasty creature and wonder who will clean up the remains.
LAST THOUGHTS ON DUTY
I’m going to play the lottery to see if I can win enough dough to hire a full-time assistant to do all the piddly stuff I don’t want to do anymore. Wish me luck!
I’d love it if you’d join me!
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