5 Strategies to Avoid a Wasted Youth

To avoid a wasted youth, there are five things you should know. Before, I share those five things, I want to reveal what comes to my mind when I think of a wasted youth. When I hear a wasted youth, I am reminded of the quote by George Bernard Shaw – “youth is wasted on the young”. We all generally understand what the word “wasted” means but to understand the words “youth” and “young” is something altogether different.

Grandma Says You’re Too Young to Have a Wasted Youth

My grandmother lived beyond age 100. When you reach her age, most of the people who were your peers are no longer living. In fact, for more than 40 years, the bulk of the people she associated with were younger and chronologically more youthful than she.

As my grandmother was fond of suggesting, youth and age are both relative. My grandmother’s life was a living testament that just because your date of birth says older than everyone else – your mind, body, soul and spirit don’t have to move in lock step. My grandmother was proof of the age old quote (no pun intended) – “You are only as old as you feel”.

Grandma’s Hands

Erroneously, not enough people appreciate life the way my grandmother did. Too many people consider youth to end between the ages of 18 or 21. My grandmother would have laughed at all you young-ins under 100. For a woman who lived beyond 100, anyone under 90 would have been just a kid to her. Those of you under 80 – well – you would be nothing more than babies to her. So while you think about what I just wrote, wipe that Simalac off your mouth.

She chased her grand-kids around with a fly swatter and jumped rope with us well into her 70s. She maintained a garden well into her late 80s/early 90s. My grandmother did everything in her power each day not to personify a life of wasted youth.

In an early tribute to what would have been my grandmother’s 104^th birthday, I have listed five strategies you should follow to avoid a wasted youth. Oh yeah, before I forget I named the five rules after the second most famous family to have lived in Gary, Indiana – The Jackson 5.

Just Like ABC, 123

1. Jackie Rule – Life is a marathon not a sprint. So many of us, including and perhaps especially me, lack a clear perspective about life. There are times when we are so fixated on the immediate accomplishment of goals and the fulfillment of dreams that we lose perspective on the here and now. I’m certain that my grandmother would have reminded us that it is great to be motivated and focused but the daily joys of life should never be sacrificed by impatience. In fact, I can almost hear her say “the race is not given to the swift but to he that endure to the end.”
2. Tito Rule – Life goes in many directions – up, down, fast, slow, twists and turns. Life is not one smooth ride on an uninterrupted highway. Life goes in all different directions and over all types of terrains. Sometimes the road is clear and fast. Other times the road is stop and go with no detour insight. The key to life is to pack all the supplies available to you – civility, wisdom, perseverance and inspiration – and ride life out as far and as long as you can. Your task is simply to move on down the highway, roll on down the highway and keep moving ahead so life won’t pass you by.
3. Jermaine Rule – Life can only be lived one day at a time. This rule is particularly hard for a vast number of us. We want things to be the way we want them when we want them so desperately that we lose sight of life’s process. In life, there are very few shortcuts. In fact, there are few times were we benefit from speeding up life’s process. Children who once believed they couldn’t wait to be grown are now the adults who long for the days of their youth. Such is proof positive that life is best lived staying in the moment.
4. Marlon Rule – Life is never a failure if each day ends knowing you gave it everything you had. My grandmother taught me that the true measure of success is never failing to give your absolute best regardless of the outcome. The outcome is really irrelevant, giving your all is what matters. Sure, you might not always have your desired outcome and there will be times when you are disappointed but as long as you gave it your all – you are never a failure. Living this way honors life. Living this way always makes you victorious.
5. Michael Rule – Life is meant to be lived serving a cause much bigger than little ole’ you. The fact that my grandmother lived beyond age 100 is not at all surprising. She lived for something much bigger than herself. Her life was driven by the combining forces of faith and family. She wanted everyone to have what she had.  So if you are going to live a life worth living, if you are going to avoid a wasted youth, you are going to need to be driven – just as my grandmother was – by something bigger than you. In the grand scheme, individually, we are all insignificant. However, if we all find that one thing that we would die for, that one thing that wakes us up in the middle of the night – chances are we would have discovered a way to serve the world and make it a better place.
6. Randy Rule – Now, I know what you are thinking, the group was the Jackson 5 and this is the sixth rule. However, there were six Jackson brothers who participated in the group at one time or another. So in honor of Randy, I believe it is important to acknowledge that the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing. Avoid a wasted youth by being prepared to risk it all. Burn the boats! Do or die! Whatever expression you choose, be sure to live life as intensely and as passionately as possible. Remember, there are no other lives for you to live nor will you be able to argue when your time is up that you deserved more days if you won’t do all that you can with the 24 hours you have today.

I hope my grandmother would appreciate the fashion I told all you young-ins to stop wasting your youth. And remember no matter your age there is someone older than you who just might think that you are a living example of youth being wasted on the young.

Happy Birthday Grandma! I miss you and I love you!

Are you living life so vividly and so intensely that thoughts of another life, or of a longer life, are not necessary? Are you teaching your children to cultivate their youth while they are young?