So this past week I overheard a student in the cafeteria complaining about how a classmate was soooo stupid for still going out with a girl who cheated on him. Is it sad the young man doesn’t have the self-respect to end a bad relationship? Maybe… But he is staying with someone without the self-respect to honor the relationship in the first place. Codependence? Could be, I’m no expert…

In any event, sometimes young people focus on unimportant stuff that is of no consequence in their lives.

What puzzled me more was how bent out of shape this young complainer was about something that has no impact on her own health, wealth, love, or happiness. Why?

Is this why so many youngsters don’t self-actualize? Because they’re not tending to their own storefront? This is pure speculation. But I bet if someone cared to do the research, you’d find out that most young people have no filter regarding their own lives, but they’re all experts in other people’s problems. Of course, no one would ever fund such research, because it does nothing to boost test scores.

Students, be smart and focusing on yourself. Tending your own storefront is far more fulfilling than than wasting mental energy worrying about the behavior of others, especially when it has no effect on your life. Also, it would make your school a better place.

Energy is almost always better spent improving yourself. Read a book. Complete an assignment. Choose positive influences. Eliminate the negative influences in your life whenever possible. These activities will all make you feel better than worrying about other people’s issues. The scary part is the more you learn, the more you’ll realize you still don’t know a ton of stuff.