When you grow up you tend to look back and remember your best friends. You remember occasions and incidents that only you will take to the grave. My youth was spent watching Fred Savage grow up playing the character Kevin Arnold in the Wonder Years.
Do you remember the Wonder Years?
In one particular episode, Kevin went to work with his father, Jack (Dan Lauria) to see what his dad actually did for a living. The scene started with him sitting in his father’s chair at Norcom. While looking through the draws he noticed a difference in his father’s attitude when dealing with both his boss and his subordinates.
With a proud tone in his voice, Kevin asked,
“When did you decide to become a manager at Norcom?”
Jack Arnold looked back at Kevin with one of those famous stares while mumbling “grrrr”.
“It was something that just happened all by itself” he sighed.
The innocence of the question and the pain in Jack’s voice leads to only one conclusion. It was never the life that Jack consciously chose for himself.
Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75- Benjamin Franklin
The Wonder Years was so popular because the stories related to 90% of the population. Any one of us could play the role of Kevin’s dad or Kevin depending on our age.
Do you remember being a child and being asked that QUESTION;
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I bet you do; and I can also safely bet that you didn’t want to become part of the corporate machine of a large organisation that would provide a chunk of coin for your family.
No, I would safely place my chips on you answering from the heart.
“Professional soccer player, guitarists, pilot or a small time lawyer fighting and protecting the environment”
Of all sad worlds of mouth or pen, the saddest are these; it might have been- John Greenleaf
Forget about practicalities and immerse yourself in your dreams. Forget about the conditioning and what society, your parents, teachers and even your friends want you to pursue.
Know Thyself
Wherever you are and whatever you’ve become, it does not need to stay that way; unless of course, you choose to remain in your current position.
There is nothing wrong with your current profession, BUT if there is still something deep within you, a burning desire, that remains unfulfilled, perhaps now may be the time to rethink what your life is about.
When we have no definite purpose, direction or goals, life becomes what happens to us. Life dictates what happens to us and we play the role of the victim and what we become, sigh! There is nothing wrong with that, after all the world needs middle management.
But here’s the tragedy, a product of circumstance and opportunity is probably not what you would choose for yourself given your wonder years again.
So why would you enforce the same rules on your child?
Why would you allow your child to wonder through life without direction?
Why would you deny them the opportunity to pursue their dreams?
So answer the following question,
“When did you decide you wanted to become………?”
With this in mind, do everything in your power to fulfil your child’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
The Epidemic of Life
The next time you feel depressed, unappreciated or like your dreams have slipped through your fingers I want you to know that this song plays for everybody.
This epidemic can be cured by connecting, loving and protecting your children.
The minute we realise that the child sitting next to us needs us, we’re able to extinguish our past and concentrate on their dreams.
Do not allow your child to be average!
Everything we are taught in school, by our parents and the media is outdated, a myth. A myth that is designed to produce obedient civilians. Don’t let your children get brainwashed by schools, religion or believing that a job and following instructions is the key to life. It’s not!
Don’t let schooling interfere with your education- Mark Twain
Manchester United!
Liverpool!
Real Madrid or even Barcelona!
Why not?
Our children have no trouble believing the “impossible”.
It’s only you and I, with our big brains and little heart who doubt, over think and condition our children to play it safe.
“What would you do, if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me, lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song, I will try not to sing out of tune”……..
“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars”
In general soccer makes you optimistic and ready for life! Great post