Being a young man myself, I am very well acquainted with the mindset of young people trying to make it in this world. We live in an age where we have to "take" what is ours...what we deserve from our hard work. We have to compete vigorously and claim what we deserve...what is ours. Though it may be perceived as assertive and strong to live this way, perhaps it absolutely foolish.
Why is there such a high sense of entitlement amongst young people?
This is a question that author Randy Pausch helped me bounce around in my head. He points out that this sense of entitlement is a very dangerous thing for anyone... no one deserves to have as strong a sense of entitlement as young people do today. I'm very glad I was able to think about this today and to let it marinate in my thoughts.
I mean, our culture is highly involved with taking. Taking what is ours, what we deserve, what we think we should have because we are so much better than the people who wont get what we're gonna get. What we take will define us. So foolish, isn't it?
I mean, the world has suffered as soon as humanity felt this entitlement. Wars have broken out, the environment has suffered, our resources are dwindling away...
I'm starting to believe that the truly successful people in this world have devoted much of their lives to what it is that they are going to offer back to the world, humanity, and the universe. I don't mean people like Donald Trump. I mean people like Randy Pausch who have lived successful and fulfilling not only carreers but lives as well. The man died with a smile on his face and an open heart...Donald Trump is always frowning about something.
What will we offer back to the world and to what/whom created us? I'm not trying to get religious here, but we can think about this "creative being" in many forms. For some it might be Jesus. For others, it could be nature. For others, it could be humanity, the stars, the trees...anything. Anything that was here before us, existed perfectly before we did, and has already seen the world before we stomped around, acted like self-promoting idiots, spent way too much on a car in hopes to make us look cool...etc. What are we giving back? Why must we give back?
Well, we must give back. Our skills, our passions should serve others...not ourselves. Sure, a purely selfish pursuit of success with lots of money can be possible but in the end if you didn't serve the goodness of people and helped to cultivate it, then did you do anything? Seriously, how many unhappy billionaires do you see out there...a lot! Some are very happy...they did it right.
I'm starting to think that the MOST important investment you can ever make is the investment of making your own effort towards not only enriching yourself but also the world around you. Sure, it is a great idea to invest money into the future as well (and I see to be essential) but it isn't nearly as significant as the dividends that have payed off for people like Randy Pausch who leaves this world having touched so many people in a freightening, soul stirring way. He did this while having the job of his dreams and helping others pursue theirs as well. He was able to pursue his dreams (dreams that resulted in a great sense of honesty both to himself and others)and as a result he was abundant with love that had to inevitably spread to others. Undoubtedly, a beauty such as this that results from being honest is one of many wonders that stem from the Shakespeare's ideal, "to thine own self be true"
All we do is take. When we take more than we give things just will not be right...i've realized this.
