Everyone is a Winner with Patience, Time and Sacrifice

People are bombarded daily with a lifestyle that seems desirable to live. We see a lifestyle of money, fame and bling. And while we all may be awed to live such a glamorous life, the youth are most affected.

There was a time when young people wanted to be doctors, lawyers and other such professionals because they were seen to have money, respect and power. Now, young people aspire to be entertainers and sports figures. They are the ones who now seem to have the money, respect and power.

MTV’s Cribs, music videos and rap songs help promote an over the top lifestyle that most of the youth will never achieve. Young people see the appearance of the fabulous life that Bow Wow, Soldier Boy, Keshia Cole and Rhiana may live, but they don’t realize the patients, time and sacrifice they give for that benefit. Thus, leaving young people to believe they can have something for nothing.

Schools and youth sports teams also promote the something for nothing belief with pushing this everyone is a winner, no one is a loser attitude. And while we must learn that everyone is a winner, no matter if you win or lose, young people need to also learn that losing at something doesn’t make them a failure. Failure to get back up and do better the next time does.

It is not fair to any young person to lead them to believe that without patience, time and sacrifice they can achieve any amount of success. This bad attitude will lead right into adulthood. When young people see the fabulous lifestyles of their favorite entertainer or sports figure, they should know the history of how they came to be in that position. Just as much as the glamour is promoted, the patients of the years it took to achieve the success should be promoted. The time it took them away from friends and family. The sacrifice they made from other activities to constantly practice their craft.

I guess if their was a reality show that went on for years and years covering aspiring entertainers and sports figures would be very boring. Really, who would want to see little Bobby playing baseball since he was in pee wee, with the wins and many losses, up to adulthood when he finally made it to the amateur baseball league before he possibly made it pro, if he makes it that far at all? No one. It would show too much of the reality that it takes to get where you want to go.

Nothing is impossible. So, if fame, fortune and bling are what young people want, then fame, fortune and bling they can have. But nothing in life worth having is free. One will have to pay a price for any amount of success they wish to achieve. And the price is usually comes with patience, time and sacrifice.