"Estos problemas no fueron creados por la acción del gobierno o la inacción del gobierno. Nosotros los creamos y solo nosotros podemos solucionarlos."

This quote is all about personal responsibility. It’s saying that the issues we face weren't caused by some distant, faceless government. It’s on us – all of us – to both accept that we’ve played a role in creating these problems and to take active steps to solve them.

Historically, this kind of statement often comes up in times of social or environmental crises where there’s a tendency to point fingers at the government for not doing enough. But think about it: whether it's pollution, social inequalities, or economic challenges, a lot of these issues stem from collective actions by individuals and communities. It’s a call to stop blaming and start doing.

Imagine a neighborhood struggling with litter and vandalism. It's easy to complain that the local government isn’t doing enough to clean up the streets or install better lighting. But, if the residents themselves are the ones tossing trash and looking the other way when they see someone spray-painting a wall, it’s clear that the solution needs to start with them. The government can set up programs and provide resources, but unless the community members take pride in their environment and act responsibly, the problem will persist.

So, how can we apply this wisdom? Start small and local. Think about the changes you can make in your own life and community. If you’re passionate about the environment, start recycling, reduce your plastic use, organize a local cleanup. If social issues are close to your heart, volunteer, educate yourself and others, support local initiatives. It’s about shifting from a mindset of blame to one of proactive change.

Let me share a story to bring this home. There was this guy, Dave, who lived in a small town. The town had a beautiful park, but it was always filled with litter. Dave loved jogging, but seeing the park in that state every day frustrated him. At first, he ranted about it on social media, blaming the town council for not maintaining the park. But then, he had a realization: he was contributing to the problem by not doing anything about it.

So, Dave decided to act. He started picking up litter as he jogged. At first, people thought he was a bit odd, but then something amazing happened. Others saw what he was doing and began to join him. Soon, it became a regular thing – a group of locals would meet up every Saturday morning to clean the park. Over time, the park transformed. It became cleaner, more people started using it, and the whole community felt a sense of pride and ownership.

Dave’s story shows that taking responsibility and action can spark wider change. It’s about recognizing that while we may not have created the problem alone, we’re all part of the solution. It’s empowering, really. It means we don’t have to wait for someone else to fix things. We can start right now, with the choices we make and the actions we take.

Next time you’re faced with a problem, big or small, think about what you can do. Sure, the government has its role, but at the end of the day, we have the power to make a difference. It starts with us.