I was born into a home and lifestyle where street intelligence was a must; the only other alternative was to become a victim, and that wasn't a viable choice. I was raised hard, to be a tough motherfucker. I was motivated to become a leader, use my voice, and use all my intelligence's. I was a smart and confident person, able to make decisions whether I thought they were right or not. I was even good at playing the long game. My downfall, I thought I knew who I was. I mean, I knew who I was, at that moment in time. But I didn't know who I was becoming.
The Problem
The issue is not what I knew, it is what I didn't know. It is what I thought I knew. I thought I was certain in who I was and what I wanted. I thought I knew where I was going in my life; and why I was going there. As a result I made decisions that would be life altering - and not positively life altering.
The Solution
In hind sight the solution seems simple. However, then, it did not. Like I said, I thought I had it all. But, I was missing one key piece of guidance.
Experience Life, Take it All In!I grew up experiencing, first or second hand, situations that most of my peers weren't; or, because I ran the streets, got high and drunk at my own will, had sex as I pleased, and paid my own way. I thought this made me experienced. And, in one sense it did. But all in the wrong ways. At fourteen I was living on my own, at fifteen I was a father, and at sixteen I was incarcerated for three years. These were the not positive life altering decisions I referred to. I let this thought that I was experienced, that I knew myself, get to my head. This became my Achilles heel.If I could go back in time I would tell myself this:
You learned a great deal from your youth, it made you a strong person. However, it benefits you less than it does those around you. You need to do the following: - worry less about being in love with others and be in love with you,
- travel the world,
- try it all, don't worry about judgement,
- have faith in yourself,
- learn an instrument or ten,
- post-secondary education is important, but it can wait.
This advice would have made me the best version of myself at a much younger age.
| About Jason White |
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| Jason White is a father, a grandfather, knowledge seeker and sharer. Jason is the owner of Growth Positive Consulting where he puts his fundraising and management skills to great use. He is a writer, a woodworker, and a philanthropist. Find him here:facebook: @JasonLWhiteAuthortwitter: @ChiiMakwainstagram: @Chii_Makwa |
