There are several challenges facing boys in today’s world. However, we will be looking at a foundational challenge that if fixed can enable the boy child to grow up into who he was meant to be, an “Original”. Because the truth is; there is only one person like you, any other person trying to be you automatically become a “Fake”, an “Imitation” of you. I want to share with the boys today on “Being an Original”.
Most young teenage boys are under immense pressure from their peers to adopt vices or join their peers in adopting characters they independently would not want to adopt. Their reasons usually are as a result of their quest to be popular, liked by others or just known by their peers. As a growing teenage boy, it seems normal to be obsessed with your popularity and likeability. It looked like the best way to improve your self-image and how other people see you. But the irony in it is that it is completely false. You do not need everyone to like you; the most important person that needs to like you is “YOU”.
This I want to be popular stuff is basic. I know you see cool boys, they dress cool, they get attention, they are going to parties and you want to be like them, right? Keep it real, sometimes you feel like you are not enough, right? Well I am telling you, you are ENOUGH.
“Popularity” does not mean quality, but I understand that feeling. In this World we live in. It can look weird as you see people loved for being fake and others are judged for being real. Notwithstanding, you have to be real and never stop because it’s better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are NOT. So what if you don’t fit in? What if you are not perfect? Do you know how diamond experts can tell if a diamond is real or worthless? See the fake diamonds are perfect while the real ones have flaws, and just like the fake people appear perfect, real people make mistakes and have flaws. And let me tell you this: The coolest people don’t care about being cool. The people who care about being cool are the saddest. When they go home, they are not happy with who they are because popularity is when other people like you. True happiness is when you like you.
So find yourself because it’s a critical aspect in developing your character. How can you be confident in who you are, if you don’t know who you truly are? So spend time alone and figure out what it is that you like and dislike, what is it that you are passionate about, and what do you want to do. Discover your talents and take up new responsibilities as you step out of your comfort zone to soar higher. For most boys, there is nothing they want more than for people to like them. Not being popular is good, seize that time to work on yourself, develop much needed life skills. When you work on yourself and become better everything changes. As you move confidently towards becoming “You” the right people will be attracted to you. Then you will realize you were enough already, Yes “YOU ARE ENOUGH ALREADY”.
Nobody has lived your life; nobody can tell your story, so pick your head up and write that story daily by your choices. Don’t do things because everyone is doing them. Define your OWN COOL. It is okay to be different and you owe no one an apology for recognizing your uniqueness. Don’t trade your dignity for popularity. You may not be popular now but you will be great one day if you keep at becoming the best every day you wake up. Right now you may not be well known, but one day you will be worth knowing. So keep focusing on you. You may not see it now but in a couple of years none of this popularity stuff is going to matter. See popularity ends on yearbook day as you graduate from school. What you build and who you become will last the rest of your life.
Remember the truth is there is only one “YOU”, any other person trying to be you automatically becomes a “Fake”, an “Imitation” of you. So likewise every time you try being like someone else, picking up their habits, walking like them, talking like them, you are working very hard to become a “Fake” an “Imitation” of the original. So don’t let them write your story, you are stronger than that, you were born an Original, don’t degrade yourself to an imitation. “Be Original”.
Happy International Day of the Boy Child from all of us at Kids and Teens For Christ!
