While
I was growing up both of my parents had jobs.
We were a 2-income family comprised of 4 people. Now I am not here to put down those that are stay
at home parents. That is great and more
power to you. I remember that my mother
loved her work. She would complain and I
think we all do at some point about our jobs.
A few reasons she enjoyed her work is because she got to deal
with people, work with numbers and help others.
My dad worked in the same industry for years. He worked his way up the chain and was very
satisfied with what he was doing. Neither
one of me parents had more than a high school education with some continuing
education added on. They were both successful people in their careers.
The interesting part about it is the older my parents got
the less they wanted success and the more they wanted something comfortable and
easy. They were about helping others and doing more for their family. My parents were/are my biggest fans and my
biggest critics. There are plenty of
times when I did wrong and I did not want to hear it from my parents. The feedback they would give me are now words
that I cherish. There are times that I
am very thankful for their words of wisdom they tried to bestow on me.
My sister was the rebel of the bunch. There was nine years different in age between
us. We had a love hate relationship
between us. She would always pick on me
and tease me while growing up. She is
the one that grew my love of music, sense of adventure and a lot of fun times
that cannot be published. She was a lot
of Rock and Roll at times and soulful country the rest.
Growing older has allowed me to think back and relish those times that I had with my family.
The good and the bad. These are
what makes me the person I am today. As I sit here as a grown man I tend to
question more than I ever have in the past.
I also realize I lose my “filter” more than I ever have before. The filter is that mechanism that stops you
from speaking exactly what is in your head at any given moment. I am pretty sure my filter is lost somewhere
with my broken halo. We go probably go on
for 20 blogs on those stories.
When I start the think back I realize that a lot of what
my parents liked about their work was the people they worked with at the
time. There are people that my mom and dad
worked with that we still see today. Or we see their spouses and children who
are my age. This is what it should be
about. We spend a lot of time at
work. We spend more time at work than we
do with our own family and friends.
For the longest time I use to believe that I did things
so that I wouldn’t disappoint my boss, my parents, my sister or my
friends. What I have learned is that I
do things, so I won’t disappoint myself.
When I was in college my roommate had a saying on his wall that was in
his bathroom at all the places we lived.
It was called “The Man in the Mirror”.
This is something that still sticks with me to this day. When I wake up, or before I go to bed, I must
be able to look at myself in the mirror each day.
It is an inherit human nature to seek validation in our
lives. We can get validation from performing good deeds for others (which
should be self-gratification), we can also get it from our parents or we get it
from people around us. While I was
growing up my parents tried their best to make sure that my sister and I never
went without what we wanted. We were
people that lived by modest means. My
parents wanted us to have more than they had growing up and I know that my
sister and I were very thankful for all they did or have done for us.
If we are going to be totally honest with ourselves, we
should be forced to look ourselves in the mirror each day and speak the truth,
we might be better people. In the technologically
advanced age we live in now, we are ruining not only our children, but ourselves.
Many reports are out there that explain how the people that brought all this
great technology to our hands raised their children without it. There are
people I know that do not let their kids near an electronic device. No phones,
no tablets or computers. That is only for grown ups and school work if needed.
People need to put down their phones. They need to turn
off the TV. Everyone needs to speak to people face to face or pick up a phone
and call a person. Stop texting, stop twitting, stop snapping each other every
day. If you don’t think there is an impact from the electronics in our lives, you
are wrong. They might even be the root of all evil. Setting the example for the
younger generations is important.
All the experiences I had growing up were wonderful and
very fulfilling. Lots of love, laughter and a few tears. Many of us learned
very important life skills without picking up a phone, tablet or looking at a
computer. It is time to be the adult. Teach your children respect and show
respect to those around you. We get what we give in this life and we only get
to live it once.
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