I know that times are tough. And they are going to get tougher. It wasn’t too pleasant for your grandparents during the Great Depression, either.
Back then, I don’t recall the word “career” being used extensively; what was important was a J-O-B. The ultimate ambition was to stay afloat, to hold one's own, no footsteps backwards, as it were.
Today, we would do a disservice to ourselves if we were to try to use this old thinking philosophy, and "settle for less". We can't "settle for less" of nutrition, nor less of education, nor less of progress, nor less of purpose. But, we can and should "settle for less" of falling for what we have been told is the good life—a house we can’t afford, a car that guzzles gas, politicians who line their own pockets, a lack of honesty, the siren call of the miracle electronics toys, the great divide of religions that preach love and deliver hate... (wait a minute, how much time have you got?)
There was a Clint Eastwood movie where the protagonist made the statement, Decide what you want to be, and then start acting like it. My children, I hope you decide to be fair, sane, supportive of your partner; laugh at some things, ignore some unimportant things; and don't waste any day or any asset while you live.
Now, about my title:
The last line of our Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson, says "we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." What magnificent words. Many of the signers of the Declaration were aristocrats, wealthy, and had a lot to lose. In fact, their names were kept secret for six months since, for each, that signature on the Declaration pledged his life, his fortune and his sacred honor.
Other revolutions in this world were begun by men who had less to lose. Our American forefathers, however, had everything to lose and only one thing to gain: freedom. So, in order to secure freedom they pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
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