My focus has kind of been on teenagers, you know, and I think we’ve got a huge crisis right now in America, among our teens.
It’s especially hard to admit that you made a mistake to your parents, because, of course, you know so much more than they do.
Small changes can make huge destination differences.
You can usually tell when a couple becomes centered on each other because they are forever breaking up and getting back together.
The primary purpose of going to college isn’t to get a great job. The primary purpose of college is to build a strong mind, which leads to greater self-awareness, capability, fulfillment, and service opportunities, which, incidentally, should lead to a better job.
My dad told me that when I was born my cheeks were so fat the doctors didn’t know which end to spank.
I think the greatest challenge between child and parent is communication.
The average teen today spends about 35 hours a week in front of a screen of some kind: iPod, movie, TV, video. And a lot of it is good, but a lot of it’s not. And so I think you’ve got that five hours a day of media coming into your kid’s head that’s creating a lot of havoc out there.
My dad is a good role model for me, and then I had a high school coach that really helped me out when I was struggling and made a big difference in my life.
All the events of your past have formed a lens, or paradigm, through which you see the world. And since no one’s past is exactly like anyone else’s, no two people see alike.
One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is to help them find their talents.
Listening can heal wounds.
Strong minds talk about ideas; weak minds talk about people.
Instead of trying to blend in and be like everyone else, be proud of and celebrate your unique differences and qualities. A fruit salad is delicious precisely because each fruit maintains its own flavor.
If you’re planning on dropping out of high school, prepare yourself for the future by repeating aloud each day: ‘I’m looking forward to low-paying jobs for the rest of my life.’
Being gentle means forgiving yourself when you mess up. We should learn from our mistakes, but we shouldn’t beat the tar out of ourselves over them. The past is just that, past. Learn what went wrong and why. Make amends if you need to. Then drop it and move on.
The following is a list of statements made many years ago by experts in their fields. At the time they were said they sounded intelligent. With the passing of time, they sound idiotic.
You should see my baby pictures. My cheeks hung off my face like water balloons. You can imagine how often I was teased.
Don’t let your pride or a lack of courage stand in the way of saying you’re sorry to people you may have offended.
These problems are real, and you can’t turn off real life. So I won’t try. Instead, I’ll give you a set of tools to help you deal with real life.