We should lie to our children

As we age do we become complacent in our lives? Am I content where I am? Or has the world pressured me into something that I don't like?

I find now and days that as much as I dislike my job I know that I will never leave it. It's safe. I work 40 hours, the same schedule every week. I do the same things every day. Is this really what I want? If the answer is no then the follow up is always then what do I want. The answer to that is a shrug. A defeated shrug.

When I was younger I truly believed that I could do anything! I remember putting a new pair of socks on and sliding around the kitchen pretending to be an ice skater. I can recall putting on concerts for my stuffed animals because at the time no one told me that my singing was terrible. No one had told me that ice skating requires balance that I've always lacked.

So, what changed?

I was told the truth. "You can do anything you want! (conditions may apply)" I was told I couldn't do certain things. I can't be an acrobat because I'm not flexible. I can't be a doctor because once upon a time someone told me that blood was gross. I can't work with animals because I was told they will hurt you. I have two left feet so I can't dance. Artists don't make any money so I can't do that. And heaven forbid I be an actor because as we all know if I became an actor I would have to move to New York City and I would probably get mugged and murdered. I couldn't be a supermodel because I was too smart for that. I couldn't be a lawyer because I wasn't smart enough for that.

Why did people tell me this?

Now I get asked the question, if you don't like your job then why don't you just change it?

Because I can't.

Where would I go? What would I do? As a child I had so many options! As an adult...the number is smaller. I get asked what I'm going to school for. My answer used to be I don't know. Then it was sign language, to be an interpreter. In response I got shifty glances. That's not a real job. I obviously wouldn't make money off of it. Why would I waste my time with a hobby? Now people ask me and I shrug. I have no idea because the few ideas that I had were shot down.

I have no idea what to study. I still take classes but they aren't to get ahead and by Jesus that confuses people. I am at a point in my schooling where I look at the class list and I say to myself, that sounds cool let's do that. And I do.

But....you mean you're learning for fun? Why would you do that? Taking a poetry class isn't going to get you anywhere. What do you mean you aren't trying to earn a degree. Well if you ask my opinion...

Then I cut them off. I am trying to find myself again. Figure out what I am going to do. They won't understand. I don't expect them to. Society tells me that I should follow the crowd. Forget individuality and just go with the flow. Why should I give society control of my life though?

I may not be able to be the first princess dinosaur in space but that doesn't mean I shouldn't at least look into it. I am going to find out what I want. What interests me, what I don't like, and hopefully I'll find something that I love.

I look out onto my nephew and nieces generation. Then I look at mine and the ones before me. I only ask one thing. Let's lie to the upcoming youth. Let's believe in them so much that they keep thinking that anything is possible. Don't tell them the horrible truths of adulthood, don't tarnish their hopes and dreams. Instead help them flourish. Don't trap them in a box or a cookie cutter, let them roam free in their fantasies. And if you can, try to lie to yourself too. You can be anything, its just a matter of doing.

-BKW