My message to Youth, Part II
Embrace the journey ahead, both the excitement of the future and the wisdom of the past. Yet remember this, “What lies before you, and what lies behind you, should be of little concern to what lies within you.” Emerson
What is within our perseverance, enthusiasm, curiosity, focus, awareness, attitude, and playfulness has been developed through the early years of our environment. This environment consists of your family, relatives, where you live, how you are treated, loved, even challenged and encouraged. It can include financial status as well as the smaller triumphs and failures you experience along with your exposure to learning.
It has been studied and written about numerous times that up to 85 to 90% of your personality traits will be developed by the time you are five years old.
This does not mean you will not continue to grow in knowledge, unique experiences, and situations. Your filter system though, will have an established foundation, sort of like the trunk of a tree.
It has been said, “You are the same person 5 years from now, outside the books you read and the people you meet.” Through this exposure, your growth in knowledge accelerates far more quickly than people who read very little.
Remember that knowledge is a forerunner of understanding and wisdom. Your people skills development is critical to your success, effectiveness, and goals. It is a lifelong endeavor which brings joy, fun, and also, smiles to many others. A great book to read about people skills – How to Win Friends and Influence People.
This book should be a must-read for all middle school/high school students. This short, clear, simple to understand and apply book explains people skill’s basics and foundations. (Note-ThriftBooks.com is a great place to buy used books at truly low prices.)
Learning is a lifetime experience. Staying locked on online video games for 6 – 8 – 10 straight hours, can be Extremely Stimulating. No one disputes this. Yet brings little long-term returns when filtered through your future. At Your Children’s World (YCW), we promote having healthy balances with your time investments and choices. Outdoor experiences are close by, as are many of your friends.
While Social Media and Online Video Games are intoxicating, they also slow down your development in other areas: School work, events, sports, being outside, school clubs and teams, and overall, your direct people skills development.
