Pistachio Shells and Broken Pencils

Depending on who you ask, being a teenager is either the best thing in the world, or the worst.

Ask an adult, and they would give anything to go back to a time when their greatest responsibilities included being able to learn new things and studying for tests.

Ask a teenager, and they can’t wait to leave behind being hampered by rules they have to follow or being regaled by how “good” they have it compared to the adults in their lives.

Perception and reality are two sides of the same coin. If you listen to author Mark Manson, control is an illusion, and what we actually do, on a daily basis, is insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Struggle seems to be the only constant – no matter what age you find yourself.

So, pick your poison.

Absolutely – control is an illusion, but you know what’s not… preparation, hard work, integrity, accountability, just to name a few….

Four tests in one day – that’s not something you can control. Feeling prepared because you studied and paid attention in class… well, you get the idea.

As human beings, it is very easy to feel wildly overwhelmed and powerless. So many of us are playing defense in our own lives, that we feel soul-tired and rundown. The instinctive need to survive, make things better, and yes, even struggle is not going away anytime soon. Our only solution – focus on what matters (to us) and what makes us feel alive/empowered.

Today I had a student tell me that he had no idea what was going on in To Kill a Mockingbird. As his teacher, I had to ask him – has he been reading with us, on his own, has he been watching summary videos of each chapter, has he been asking questions during discussions, has he been completing each task with due diligence?

I mean, I get it…. I do.

It’s so easy, too easy in fact, to throw your hands in the air and exclaim, “It’s too much!” and give up without doing your part.

We’ve heard it… time and time again…. that nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. And while yes, some people undeniably have greater advantages, if they fail to take ownership of their own lives, they too will struggle.

Here’s the thing – the test doesn’t matter. Heck, even the results don’t matter. What really matters is what you learn about habits of work, and what you learn about yourself.

The definition of insanity, according to Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Don’t like how you’re feeling today? Spend time reflecting on the choices you made that brought you to this point. Want something to change – start within.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Write a poem inspired by the title of this blog. You can email me your poem, or submit it as a comment below.