You know what I am tired of hearing about ? Being empowered. I hear it all the time on the news and it is the catch phrase of every activist. We need to empower people, I need to feel empowered. You know what, you shouldn't wait for someone to give you permission , you should just seize the moment ! Seize the power for yourself and go for it. It is called self motivation and it is sorely lacking in todays youth. They are too busy waiting to be empowered. Too busy waiting for someone to either give it to them outright, because they are entitled, or too busy worrying about being politically correct. They are being crippled by those things and do not even realize it.
There was an older gentleman that was teaching my son how to tie a specific knot. He showed him several times. My son became frustrated a bit when he failed to tie the knot correctly. This gentleman showed him again and my son says, I understand. The mans response was classic," understanding ain't doing it, doing it is doing it ! " I couldn't agree more and more of these young folks need to hear that today. If you want to get something done, you have to do it. You can't just protest and complain, that isn't doing anything. Demanding action from others is not going to solve your issues. You must act for yourself, in a productive fashion, to get things done. Being " empowered " doesn't mean having an energy drink and staging a protest. Empowered does mean taking control of your life and circumstances. Empowered does mean self improvement. The key there being self. Education is one road you may take but not the only path. Keep in mind, just attending college doesn't make you educated ! You do have to actually learn and apply those lessons. The key there being " apply " the lessons.
Now you may be inspired by others and that is a good thing. You may receive support and encouragement as well. But if you are waiting to be empowered, you are wasting time. If you are not acting on your own behalf, for your own beliefs, you probably won't be too successful. Going forward with some false sense of " empowerment " is just foolish. In my day we called it jumping on the bandwagon. In my experience you soon find out you are not part of the band ! Disappointment and occasionally disgust follows. I have also observed that people will usually get others to do the jobs that they are unwilling to do. Their favorite ploy, making you feel empowered ! They are the ones that want that power and just use others to get it. It is an age old trick.
Well that is my small rant for today. I am worried about this younger generation. I just can't see how they are going to make it. All this talk about having " safe spaces " on campus and needing to feel empowered. Unless they learn how to act independently, independence is lost ! You can't litigate your way through life. You can't wait for others to improve your situation. Yes there is safety in numbers but progress requires risk. Riding the bandwagon will only take you where the wagon is going. If you want something else, you are on your own. That is where intelligence, not education will take you.
There was an older gentleman that was teaching my son how to tie a specific knot. He showed him several times. My son became frustrated a bit when he failed to tie the knot correctly. This gentleman showed him again and my son says, I understand. The mans response was classic," understanding ain't doing it, doing it is doing it ! " I couldn't agree more and more of these young folks need to hear that today. If you want to get something done, you have to do it. You can't just protest and complain, that isn't doing anything. Demanding action from others is not going to solve your issues. You must act for yourself, in a productive fashion, to get things done. Being " empowered " doesn't mean having an energy drink and staging a protest. Empowered does mean taking control of your life and circumstances. Empowered does mean self improvement. The key there being self. Education is one road you may take but not the only path. Keep in mind, just attending college doesn't make you educated ! You do have to actually learn and apply those lessons. The key there being " apply " the lessons.
Now you may be inspired by others and that is a good thing. You may receive support and encouragement as well. But if you are waiting to be empowered, you are wasting time. If you are not acting on your own behalf, for your own beliefs, you probably won't be too successful. Going forward with some false sense of " empowerment " is just foolish. In my day we called it jumping on the bandwagon. In my experience you soon find out you are not part of the band ! Disappointment and occasionally disgust follows. I have also observed that people will usually get others to do the jobs that they are unwilling to do. Their favorite ploy, making you feel empowered ! They are the ones that want that power and just use others to get it. It is an age old trick.
Well that is my small rant for today. I am worried about this younger generation. I just can't see how they are going to make it. All this talk about having " safe spaces " on campus and needing to feel empowered. Unless they learn how to act independently, independence is lost ! You can't litigate your way through life. You can't wait for others to improve your situation. Yes there is safety in numbers but progress requires risk. Riding the bandwagon will only take you where the wagon is going. If you want something else, you are on your own. That is where intelligence, not education will take you.
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