"Lights, Camera, Accountability:

The Power of Self-Accountability in Adulthood

Hey, grown-ups! Let's talk about a little thing called accountability – not the heavy, finger-pointing kind, but the liberating, life-empowering kind. As we navigate this maze called adulthood, it's time to ditch the blame game and embrace the superpower of owning our choices.

So, what's this accountability jazz all about? Well, imagine being the director of your own blockbuster movie, where you're not just the star, but also the one behind the scenes calling the shots. That's what holding yourself accountable is like – being the boss of your own narrative.

No more pointing fingers like you're playing a game of blame bingo. It's about looking in the mirror and saying, "Hey, I made that call. I took that path. I'm the captain of this ship, and I've got this."

Now, let's be real. Adulthood isn't always a walk in the park. It's more like a rollercoaster ride with a few unexpected loops and the occasional upside-down twist. In this wild adventure, it's easy to fall into the trap of pointing fingers at everyone but ourselves. "It's the job, the economy, our parents, the traffic, the neighbor's cat." You name it, we've blamed it.

But here's the thing – when we blame external factors for our choices, we're handing over the reins of our lives to circumstances beyond our control. It's like letting someone else write the script of our movie. Spoiler alert: that's not how blockbusters are made.

So, how do we become the Spielberg of our own lives? Step one: own your choices. It's not about regretting every decision or beating yourself up over a wrong turn. It's about acknowledging that, yeah, maybe that was a questionable plot twist, but it's your story, and you can rewrite it.

Take a moment to reflect on your decisions – the good, the bad, and the "what-was-I-thinking?" Own up to the fact that, as an adult, you have the power to make choices that shape your reality. It's about being the hero who faces challenges head-on and learns from the plot twists.

Here's a secret: holding yourself accountable is not a punishment; it's a key to unlocking personal growth. When you stop blaming others and start owning your choices, you open the door to self-improvement and resilience. It's like upgrading from a basic character in a video game to the one with all the cool skills and abilities.

Sure, life throws curveballs, and sometimes you have to dodge a few unexpected obstacles. But instead of blaming the pitcher for the curve, consider adjusting your swing. That's the essence of self-accountability – taking responsibility for your swing, adjusting your game plan, and hitting back stronger.

In the grand scheme of adulthood, holding yourself accountable is the secret sauce to a fulfilling journey. It's about being the storyteller, the decision-maker, and the protagonist of your own epic adventure. So, put on your director's hat, cue the inspirational music, and get ready to own the screen – because this movie is all yours, and you've got the power to make it a blockbuster.~RS

Good afternoon. It's Saturday, Dec. 16, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a verdict against a British newspaper publisher, the defamation trial of a former New York mayor, and much more.

One Big Headline

 Royal Tabloid Trial

London's High Court yesterday ruled in favor of Prince Harry in a lawsuit accusing a British tabloid publisher of using illegal methods to report on the private lives of celebrities, athletes, and royalty, including phone hacking and high-level cover-ups.

Israeli military says it mistakenly killed three hostages in the Gaza Strip.

A representative for the Israel Defense Forces said troops found the three Israeli hostages during a ground operation in Gaza Friday, mistakenly identifying them as a threat and opening fire. At least 130 people remain hostage in Gaza after Hamas abducted more than 240 people during its cross-border attack Oct. 7. See latest war updates here.

Federal jury orders Rudy Giuliani to pay $148M to defamed election workers.

A judge in August found the former New York mayor liable for defamation for falsely claiming the two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election. In the second phase of the case, the eight-person jury was tasked with determining the monetary amount Giuliani had to pay for damages to Freeman and Moss. 

Verdicts in Vatican financial corruption trial expected today.

One cardinal and nine other defendants were accused in 2021 of various financial crimes, including fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and money laundering. The case centers on the Vatican's roughly $380M investment in a luxury building in London, which was later sold at a loss of about $150M. The trial is considered historic, as the last time a cardinal was tried for financial crimes was in the 1730s. 

Mother of boy who shot teacher in Virginia sentenced to two years in prison.

The mother was sentenced for felony child neglect a year after her 6-year-old son brought her 9mm handgun to school and injured his first grade teacher in front of his classmates. Yesterday's sentencing is the second time the mother was held accountable for the shooting; she was sentenced in November to 21 months in prison for marijuana use while owning a gun, which is illegal under US law.

US mortgage rates fall below 7% for the first time since August.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has dropped for the seventh consecutive week to 6.95% from 7.03% the previous week, easing from an October peak of 7.79%, which was the highest level since late 2000 (see historical chart). However, the rate is still up from 6.31% a year ago. 

Inspiring Stories

“Booksellers save lives”
Author James Patterson is awarding $500 holiday bonuses to 600 employees at independent bookstores across the U.S. “I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough — booksellers save lives,” he said. “What they do is crucial, especially right now.”

Proud papa
This dad had an emotional, and beautiful, reaction to learning about his son’s college scholarship offer. Watch the touching moment.

Post of the Day

This story is an example of the positive power social media can have — and it prompted other people to share their own experiences of unconventional or unintentional online friendship. “I’m Instagram friends with a girl because she was tagged in a New York Times photo like 3 years ago and people thought it was me,” another person replied.