Dear Next Generation,
At the age of 97, I still remember how all through high school I believed I wasn’t smart enough to go to college. Before I had time to seriously consider it, World War II came along, and there I was, in the Army.
The sudden change was my first major “culture shock,” which dramatically impacted my normal, youthful low self-esteem. Suddenly, I was surrounded by men from 18 to their 30s who ranged from smarter than I to what I perceived as “ dumb.”
These comments are not to belittle the incompetent or “unqualified” as much as to help you rid yourself of any possible negatives you might have concerning yourself. You must charge ahead in your dream or ambition, which means collecting the essential keys, the “magical” tools (training, degrees, certificates, and work experience) to open the door to accomplishing your goal.
Here are some points to consider:
1. Do some self-analysis. Evaluate yourself honestly, objectively; unpolluted by feelings of insecurity, shyness, and low self-esteem which are natural in everyone who breathes.
2. Self-confidence does not come from outside praises. Self-confidence comes from accomplishment, doing something well, successfully, and efficiently.
3. How one dresses telegraphs how you want people to think of you; signs of self-respect relate to clothing, grooming, language, and so on.
Manhood is not “window dressing” such as flaunting tattoos, body piercings, smoking, or belligerent behavior. A man is assertive, not aggressive. He allows no one to “step” on him but does not initiate or invade another’s “domain.” Being a man is being a “good, kind, nice” person, one who does what’s right.
We all tend to perceive things, events, and people through a prism of natural self-centeredness, narcissism. So, it is up to us to discern our own human weakness and constantly battle it in order to think “outwardly,” beyond our inner self-absorbed world. The Indians say, “Don’t judge until you’ve walked in his shoes.”
Character, not intelligence, makes humans honorable!
________
Dear Next Generation,
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Likewise, the most important thing a mother can do for her children is to love their father.
Sincerely,
____________________
