YOUTHFUL AND USEFUL

Not everyone who is youthful is useful.

Yes, I said it.

It is what you do with and in your youth that will tell if you're useful or not. Or at least, will be.

If you happen to sit and interview a few young individuals, you'll discover that many young folks don't have plans, vision or exciting goals for themselves and how they can contribute positively to their generation. That's why they're engaging in stupid things.

This is saddening but true.

A youth should be known for his/her usefulness. 

Why? Because s/he is at a stage of making things happen. Young people are strong, high spirited, risk takers, filled with much vigor, alacrity and audacity. They have this propelling desire to pursue great things and a wild exuberance for adventure. They are blessed with all these, with little or no choking responsibilities.

Therefore, if nothing meaningful can be produced from your life as a youth, then there's a problem. That already tells how ugly your future will be like.

The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon said, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

He was trying to convey the essence of the youthful stage in a person's life and the reality of the difficult days (old age) ahead.

 

The youthful stage affords you the time to dream big, think big and accomplish them.

It affords you the strength and ability to make great things happen within and around you.

In your youthfulness, you can conquer and acquire great feats because you're unlimited. There's no better time in a man's life than his youthful phase. So, you possess a greater advantage as a young fellow.

Waiting till you're older (the difficult days when you have lots of responsibilities, can no longer work or do much) will be a delay to your building process.

Old age is a supposed time for retirement from all your work, a time for resting, enjoying all you've built, and more. But many individuals as elders have become voiceless, insignificant, frustrated and  painted with regrets as a result of a misused youthful stage. And in some cases, instead of resting, they begin building what they should be enjoying. What a pity!

Dear young one, you can never amount to anything staying idle, feeding from hand to mouth, chasing shadows, being a mediocre, drinking, sleeping around, attending clubs and parties, keeping sexual and destructive relationships, looking for who will approve you, following friends with depraved minds, etc.

You're harming yourself greatly by engaging in everything that brings you pleasure now. That "leave me to enjoy and flex life" statement without any vision is suicidal. It's a deception to destroy your destiny. That's a perfect way to waste your time and put you in a corner of great regrets with little or no chances to amend them later on.

Those bad habits, lifestyle, attitude and thinking that has never produced anything productive for you should be changed. Habits are formed through repeated acts of behavior. And it is then formed as character. The habits you attain equals the character you will potray.

This means the ability to change your life and be better, productive and useful lies in the habits you emulate.

If you choose to change and emulate the habits of useful and successful people, you'll find life meaningful and live a life of contribution and purpose.

Dear young one, choose not to be a liability and burden to your family and society. 

A writer, Habu Dawaki said, "Don't allow life to manage you". 

Let your family and generation be glad that you came into existence. Be responsible by making responsible decisions. Get fed up with mediocrity, stupidity, nonetity and start making a difference.

Refuse to be like the others that wile away time, spending their lives chasing shadows and frivolities.

Make bold steps, express your gifts and talents positively. Dream big, think big and focus your time and energy bringing them to reality. If you don't have a dream, go get one and start working.

This is the time for building not "flexing or cruising" so you won't regret foolish decisions tomorrow. 

The day I decided to be relevant and useful changed my life and it still is.

I discovered that the more I make goals relating to my dreams and vision, the more I get attracted to greatness and hunger for more. And this shaped how I live my life; my decisions, engagements and daily activities.

What is your spirit burning for? Greatness or foolish engagements?

Let me inspire you.

A man called John Goddard at the tender age of fifteen got tired of the mediocre outlook of his life and wanted to do big things with his life. He sat down and wrote 127 things he wanted to accomplish in his lifetime. Not 10 or 50 but 127! 

And they weren't just simple/small goals but BIG ones— what looked impossible to many.

Shockingly, he accomplished more than a hundred of his objectives before he was 50. How amazing!

I desire something like this and to pursue it. What about you?

That story changed my perspective on goal setting. 

You can do so much more than you think. The only limitation you have is your limited mind.

You can be not just useful but of great value to your family and the world only if you choose right. 

Habu Dawaki said, Those who don't have a WHY to live will never find direction." Have a WHY for your existence.

Start now by writing down your goals, take actions to pursue them and refuse all form of distractions. That's how to get useful.

"You are only young once, and if you work it right, once is enough." ~Joe E. Lewis.

Saying all these without introducing Christ is a half job done. Christ is the one that makes the journey all the more beautiful. Having Christ is an added advantage.

If you haven't received Him, now is the time to do so. I don't mean as the normal church goer but a born again.

Say these prayer of salvation:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I receive you today as Lord and Savior over me. I believe you died and rose for my sins and I repent of them today. I receive you now. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Live continuously and consciously in Christ by His Spirit. You are a seed of success.

You are blessed.