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What Really Counts

For as much of my Primary School and the early part of my High School life as I can remember, I was always quite competitive. The aim was always to be the best academically. There was enormous, but not necessarily blatant pressure on me, from teachers, parents and even myself to be first place at the end of every term. Whenever I did not deliver as was expected I was frantic. I remember bringing home a report card with a 63% grade for French while I was in high school. Before I could hand the report over to my mother I blacked out. Yes, it was that bad. I simply did not know how to handle that. My parents were always so proud when I did well, and I felt good as well, but when the grades were not that high, the smiles were not that bright.

There were times when, in the spirit of competition, I would refuse to assist someone who did not understand something or the other. If I helped them that put them at least on the same level with me, which increased their chances of being better than I was at that specific thing. We couldn't have that now could we?

I think that too many times parents put way too much pressure on their children to be the best in school and otherwise. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious and wanting to achieve great things, but if one aspires to have such achievements only to gain the approval of others, or for the sake of being recognized one soon realizes the barrenness of such pursuits. Parents need to instill in their children an attitude of hard work regardless. They should not be working towards a goal simply because they want to please someone else, and it should be taught that once one's heart is put into something, and one does his or her best, one will be successful, happy and feel a true sense of fulfillment. A child should not be afraid to come to his or her parents with a failed attempt at something. He or she should want to do well, but not at the cost of his or her sanity, self worth and sense of security.

Somewhere along the line, though, I lost that competitive drive. I became satisfied with just doing my best, even if I wasn't the best. It was no longer important for me to be number one. What was important is that I knew that I put my all into what I did. I also decided that it makes no sense to acquire knowledge, about whatever, and do nothing with that knowledge but receive awards for doing well in tests. It makes no sense to live a life where you do nothing to help another person succeed. And besides, we learn better as we teach. It is when we attempt to teach someone that we learn whether we really do know what we claim to. Do I remember how I felt when I was"the best?" No, I do not. I would assume that I felt good, and proud. What I do remember is how satisfying it was to know that I helped someone understand some missing concept in one class or another. I remember just feeling good that I helped someone do that much better at an exam because I explained something just before the exam.

In this whole Christmas cleaning frenzy that seems to have gripped most if not all of us, I came across various awards, certificates and the like for my academic achievements. The majority of them I had completely forgotten about, and this really made me come to terms with a very important fact. Though it is great to be successful and be recognized for those successes, it is not what defines me. The successes are not who I am. In the future, I may still be remembered by some as a"bright" person. It would be more meaningful, however, to be remembered as someone who made a positive impact in at least one life.

When it all comes down to it, regardless of how many certificates, diplomas, and awards you have hung in your office if you do not use whatever gift you have to make the life of at least one person a little bit easier, you have led a meaningless life. It is important that my friends know that they can depend on me. It is important that I make children, especially those who have been emotionally or otherwise hurt, feel loved and valued. It is important that I use whatever talents God has blessed me with to identify my true purpose, and to fulfill that purpose. What do you want to be remembered for? What are you doing to ensure that this happens? What is really important to you?

-Bless

Things That Do Not Make Sense (Part 2)

There is a Broadband ad which features a young lady walking up or down, whichever, an alley in lingerie and a lab coat. Now that ad's been on for quite a while and I still don't understand what on God's green earth she has to do with broadband. So Broadband is fast. By including her in the ad, dressed as she is, are they implying that she is "fast" as well? Believe me, I am not trying to be disrespectful, but the ad makes no sense. I know that "sex sells" but honestly!

'Creative Jewellery and Pawn Shop' has an ad in which Linden Jones is having a meal with a young lady at the Original Dairy Bar. At some point he realizes that he doesn't have enough money to pay for the meal and tries to leave to go get money to pay. He is stopped by one of the employees of the establishment and told that he cannot simply leave and come back without paying. After being reminded that he is wearing a big gold chain and several gold rings, and enlightened on the fact that 'Creative Jewellery and Pawn Shop' is right up the road he is seen going to the pawn shop to get the necessary cash to pay for the meal. It seems just a little senseless to me that someone would forbid me from leaving to get money initially, but then because I claim I'm just going up the road to the pawn shop to get the money, I'm allowed to go. Rubbish!

If you've ever been to the National Cultural Centre then you've heard the rules and regulations read once the show is about to begin-about the use of cell phones, and taking photographs, etc. What I do not understand though, is why they include the dress code in that announcement. If I am sitting in the auditorium, listening to the message, isn't it that I don't need to be told what the dress code is? Isn't it that I am dressed in accordance with the dress code and that if I am not dressed appropriately, but am hearing this message from the comfort of my seat, that the staff simply failed to do their job? I just think it's a very unnecessary inclusion.

-Bless

The Price We’re Willing To Pay

The parents and I finally made it to the Suarez Family Circus on Tuesday, October 22nd. There was a very small number of persons there, but each artiste executed his or her act as though it was being viewed by thousands. As wonderful as the show was, though, the purpose of this article is not to comment on the performances. I have heard many complaints over the last few weeks concerning the admission fee to the circus. I have also heard complaints about the prices of items at the concession stands. The basic truth, from which this all stems, is that as humans we are hardly, if ever, satisfied. We keep wanting more and more, but at no cost to us. We say we want better, more wholesome entertainment, but are only willing to pay the price of a poorly put together show. To attend the circus anywhere in the world one would pay no less than the equivalent of G$2,600.00-and this is at a discounted price which comes with several restrictions. I do understand that there is a big difference between the price of a drink at the circus and the price one is used to paying on the road, but be fair – the organizers have incurred expenses which they must take care of. They have the several performers and a maintenance crew to pay, equipment to maintain, as well as traveling costs to cover. Apart from these, there is also a giraffe and not one or two, but seven Bengal tigers that need to be fed. Now unless you intend to volunteer your body for the greater good –to allow others to attend the show at a slightly lower cost- your complaints are really unreasonable.Further murmuring stems from the G$2,500.00 price tag put on having one’s photograph taken with the tiger. No, I do not have a job and those who “work hard for their money” will probably say that because I am not spending my own money I do not value it as I should. But let us think this through. Were you to focus on the $2,500.00 and decide that that was just too much to pay to have a photograph taken, tell me when would you get that sort of opportunity again? We have no such creature here, so in order to see this animal again one would have to travel abroad – transportation costs + the possible admission fee to the zoo + whatever miscellaneous expenses. You do the math. Very often, people hastily take things at face value and immediately push them to the side because of cost. But I think it is very important that we all think each situation through and seriously weigh the benefits against the disadvantages. Consider the likelihood of another such opportunity presenting itself, then make a well thought out decision, that was not based solely on finances. The next time you’re tempted to be cheap, remember the French proverb which says that “It is a wise man who lives with money in the bank; it is a fool who dies that way.”
- Bless