Teens: A Call to Action

You're a teen. Everything seems to be going wrong.

You're a parent. You kid is messing up every way they can.

You're a teacher. Everyone expects everything but won't give you what you need to get it done.

You're a failure. No!

You're a messup. No!

You're a loser. No!

Don't accept it.

Don't buy into it.

The great ones.. Einstein. Edison. Ford. Gaga? Yes. Gaga. You name them. Everyone said they were crazy. Everyone said "get a life".

Everyone told them they were out of step. Out of touch. Out of luck.

You could say who has the last laugh now but do people really laugh at stuff like that when they're doing well finally. Is it a regular laugh? Or one of those crazy "Joker" laughs from the last batman. Who cares! It's not about laughing. It's about loving.

Love yourself. Believe in yourself. Have faith. Yeah. It's exam time. Yeah, you messed up some. So what. Just start tomorrow. Don't do it for anyone else but yourself. Help someone off the ground. Get them back on their feet. Do your thing. Slowly. Little by little. Put everything you have into it but don't tell anyone. Just do it.

I'm tired of the amazing kids I see starting to do great things and someone tells them it's not enough. I'm tired of seeing bullies and sadists spotlighted for awful things on the news. Why aren't the amazing small acts of courage being shown on the news. Why isn't the kids whose afraid to say two words in public, why isn't her face blazed across Mcleans magazine for standing up in class and giving her first answer aloud instead of some alleged murderer who wanted his poison shown to as many people as possible.

I believe in this generation. I believe in social media. I know that this generation is itching to make a difference. I know that the teachers and the parents really want to help them make a change. Let them! Let's honor every person who wants to try something to get this generation to find it's center. To find it's greatness. If they fail. That's ok. Just try. Just let them try. And if you fail a thousand times. Keep doing it. Keep believing. Try another way.

I believe in you. I don't care what your marks are. I don't care if you messed up. Start now. Change the world for the better even if it's the smallest thing and no one will notice.

Don't let the people who victimize be the ones we celebrate. Don't let the bullies be the ones we celebrate. Let's celebrate the kids, the parents, the teachers. Let's get every kid who wants to make a difference together and vote. Yes. Vote. Scare the politicians into caring about you guys. You have no idea what power you have. I love the protests but I need you to care. To pick a cause and go after it but make it one that creates good in the world.

Here's my promise to you. Pick something. Anything. That will change the world for the better. Stand up for it. Spend 30 minutes a day working on it. Get all your friends involved. Get their friends involved. Vote. Stand by your convictions but make sure it's positive. If you run a rally against something I won't be there but if you run a rally for something, something that will make the world better. I'll be there and I won't be alone.

How do you do it?

The antidote to discrimination and stigma is proximity and education - Dr. Catherine Zahn

1) Pick something you care about; homelessness; mental illness; discrimination; child poverty; elder abuse.

2) Do research on it. Find out enough that you could talk to anyone about it for 10 minutes and make them want to join in and help.

3) Go visit three places that presently help people in your cause. Learn about it.

4) Volunteer once or twice a week at a place that represents the best of helping your cause.

5) Ask people in the know, what is the one thing that would help this group thrive?

6) Pick that positive point and go and talk about it with everyone that will listen.

7) Write down the names/contact info of the people who are moved by the idea.

8) Set up a meeting with all those people (real or virtual) and decided on the one thing you want your politicians to change.

9) Talk to local politicians and ask them what is required to make that change happen and if they would endorse it. Find out what level of government can help.

10) Use all that you have learned to make this a platform for change in upcoming elections at the proper level.

11) Get all your friends involved. Create a Facebook page. Create a twitter account and get politicians to contribute information on the topic.

12) Vote!

13) See what happens.

Even if you do the first four on the list, you are making a difference. Anything after that and you are changing the world.

Gandhi was for something. Mother Theresa was for something. MLK was for something.

Go! Do it. Don't let your mistakes define you. Don't let the destroyers define us. We're waiting. We're waiting for you and we want to believe. And you know what? I already do believe in you and I am not alone either. Plenty of us believe. Go for it. Now!

Send me your thoughts on what we should do and I'll write about it.

What if there was a tried and true new way to bring out the best in young people not thriving. Join Ken's free newsletter and receive a weekly link to that week's article on the subject.

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