Why I Carry a Toilet Paper Roll Through Life
(Leia em 🇧🇷Português aqui)
For a long time, I lived life in a way that many people do: reacting to circumstances, pointing fingers when things went wrong, and silently hoping that one day life would magically feel easier. I didn’t realize it then, but I was stuck in a victim mindset.
Then I discovered something life-changing: I can’t always control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond. And part of that response is taking accountability: not just for the good things, but also for the mistakes, the mess-ups, and the not-so-pretty parts of being human.
That’s where my favorite metaphor comes in: I like to imagine that we should all carry a toilet paper roll with us through life. Because here’s the truth: no matter how careful we are, we’re all going to make a mess sometimes. The real question is… are we willing to clean it up?
The Habit of Blame vs. the Roll of Responsibility
When something goes wrong, the easiest instinct is to look around for someone else to blame. A partner, a boss, our past, the economy… anything to avoid looking in the mirror. But blame doesn’t solve problems: it just leaves the mess sitting there, waiting for someone else to deal with.
Accountability is different. It says: Yes, I made this mess. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. And yes, I’m going to roll out some paper and clean it up.
What It Looks Like in Real Life
Misspoke in a heated moment? Roll it out, apologize, and make it right.
Dropped the ball on a commitment? Roll it out, own it, and recommit.
Made a choice that didn’t serve you? Roll it out, acknowledge it, and choose differently next time.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It doesn’t have to be shame-filled. Sometimes it can even be a little funny! Because, let’s be honest, nobody gets through life without leaving a few messes behind.
Letting Go of Victimhood
Of course, accountability isn’t only about cleaning up mistakes. It’s also about refusing to live as a victim of circumstance. Life throws challenges at all of us, sometimes heartbreakingly unfair ones. But when we cling to blame or resentment, we keep ourselves trapped.
Choosing accountability means saying, This happened, but I still get to choose how I respond. It’s about carrying that roll of responsibility with you wherever you go: ready to clean, ready to learn, ready to move forward.
The Ripple Effect
Here’s the funny thing about accountability: the more you practice it, the lighter you feel. Instead of carrying the heavy baggage of blame and excuses, you carry something simple, flexible, and surprisingly freeing… like a roll of toilet paper.
And when people see you cleaning up your own messes - without blaming, without drama - they feel inspired to do the same. Accountability is contagious.
A Daily Practice
I won’t pretend it’s easy. Some days I still feel that old victim's voice whispering, Why me? But then I remember: I’ve got a roll with my name on it.
Living this way hasn’t made my life perfect, but it has made it fully mine. And that, to me, is freedom.
So, here’s my encouragement for you: carry your own roll of accountability. Because life will get messy, but the choice to clean it up, learn, and move forward will always be yours.
