Earlier this week my friend posted on Facebook that her daughter said she wanted to be a rock star but all her friends wanted to be princesses. I thought it was really cute that she wanted to be unique from her friends but later I found out that she wasn't being cute or spunky. She was sad because she didn't feel like she fit in with everyone else. And that got me thinking, so kids this one is for you ...
We say that 'it gets better' when you're an adult but that isn't the truth, at least its not the whole truth. Things never really change, there are always people who ride the latest trends, no matter how trivial or bizarre, and if you don't jump on the bandwagon with them then you feel like you are left in their dust. There are always the people who think they are 'the cool kids' and judge others by appearances rather than by merit and even competent, gifted, secure adults feel like awkward dorks from time to time. There are always people lurking around, waiting for you to fail so they can be the first one to laugh and say 'I told you so.' There will always be negative, hurtful yahoos who thrive off of making other people feel small and insignificant. The thing that gets better is you.
As you get older you will find your place. You will explore your gifts, talents and strengths. You will know your goodness. You will discover all that you are capable of and draw a line between that which you will and will not do. You will carve out your niche, become the person you want to be and live the life you are destined to live. You will have moments of personal greatness, devastating failure and victorious comebacks. You will work, struggle and fight for your dreams and you will know the sweetness of success. You will learn the value of rising above and being a person of integrity and honour. Joy and Peace and Hope will be your constant companions in this life and because of that you will never be lonely.
But before all that, before the finding, the discovering, the success and the joy you have to make a decision. You have to decide, in this moment, and every moment of consequence that will follow, to be better. You have to decide that trends matter far less than good character. You have decide to be the kid who speaks up for the kid being pushed around in the hallways at school. You have to decide to respect your parents, teachers, neighbors and anyone else willing to care enough to instruct you. You have to open your mind to learn from others, to learn from your own mistakes. You have to decide to be a good citizen, a good friend, a good student, a good son/daughter, a good example. You have to decide to be better, to do better.
Sound like a heavy load to carry? It's not. It all comes down to this ... give people the acceptance, opportunities and second chances you wish you had. Treat others the way you want to be treated. It's not magic, it's just being a decent human being. And if you are a decent human being, you will attract other decent human beings and then it won't be a princess world anymore. It will be a princess, rock star, super hero, accountant, bus driver, teacher, guinea pig hunter world and there will be a place for each one of us ... and then it will be better.
~Rock on, M. S. ... rock on!
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