One of my hopes in writing this blog is that I can pass some wisdom to my grandchildren (maybe even great grandchildren) so that they can avoid some of the mistakes I made at an early age, and therefore, have a better chance of achieving success in life.
It would please me if my descendants chose to read my blog someday; whether to gain any practical insights or simply to get to know their grandpa a little better.
One of the things I wish I knew was that not everything your school teachers, parents, ministers, coaches or best friends tell you is true! Not everything you read in a textbook is 100% accurate.
One should question everything and not be afraid of being inquisitive, curious and skeptical.
I was told once that when a good salesman’s word is doubted, he becomes upset and offended. That’s because he believes strongly that what he has told you is the truth.
However, when a good teacher’s word is doubted, she embraces the doubt, because good teachers want to inspire students to think on their own and come to their own conclusions.
For most of my life I was taught that Christopher Columbus “sailed the ocean blue and discovered America in 1492.” He was regarded as a hero and all-around good guy. We even have a national holiday in his honor.
Well…that’s European history…and filtered information….and it’s just plain wrong.
We now know that there were many others who came to this continent prior to Columbus. They just didn’t happen to be European.
Furthermore, Columbus and his band of merry men committed atrocities in the West Indies that demonstrated brutal, ruthless savagery. Certainly nothing heroic or fit for commemoration by any kind of holiday.
It is often hard to question your teachers or parents or priests because we believe they have our best at heart. And they do! They care for and nurture us. They are not telling us untruths on purpose! They are just ill-informed some of the time. And at other times, they are just giving us the best information that is available.
And they are human….with opinions and ideas of their own. They have come to conclusions based on the information they have collected, and their truth may not jive with yours.
My advice is to come to your own conclusions. Research and study….listen….then form the opinion that seems right to you.
In this way, the truth you embrace will truly be yours.
Don’t become a Democrat merely because your favorite teachers were Democrats.
Don’t become a Catholic simply because your parents were Catholic.
And for goodness sake, don’t choose a college, a major or a career, just because you feel this is what is expected of you!
It’s your life. And as long as the United States of America remains a free country, you can do just about anything you choose to do.
Lastly, know this; Happiness is more important than money. But that does not mean that each is mutually exclusive.
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