FEAR, CHOICE and LOGIC.

Fear and choice are two things that are present in everyone's life. Fear is often regarded as something to be ashamed of, whereas choice is something that everyone faces, but very rarely considers. Fear and courage go hand in hand, and when you've got both, you are more likely to make your choices in a fashion that will reflect well upon you later. You are more likely to make the choice that is wiser for you. On the other hand, when you fear choice, you are much more likely to do one of two things. The first being to panic, and make the wrong choice, simply because you were too afraid to think things through logically. The second course of action, is no action at all. This is as dangerous, and as wrong as leaping, without looking. When you refuse to make a choice when it is first presented to you, you end up with a large area of uncertainty in your actions. This will cause you to be hesitant the next time you are presented with a choice to make. Which, in turn, may cause you to A)Make another poor choice, or B)Shy away from the choice.

This, essentially, is why people who seem to make poor choices, make them so often. You will find that these people are usually not very different from yourself. They aren't necessarily a bad person, because of their choices. That isn't to say that someone who makes poor choices, can not be a bad person. But it does mean that they might just be scared. Teenagers are generally thought of as being the most frequent to make bad choices. This is not true. Choice is something that everyone finds in every aspect of their life. Every day. And as nobody is perfect, there is nobody who always makes the right choice. People who call themselves adults, see themselves differently than they might see someone who they consider to be a young person. They assume that because they are older, and more experienced, their choices are more often right. And upon recognizing that they have made the wrong choice, they will not always admit it. This is a third (And just as common) reaction to choice. This may happen to anyone, however. Even someone who has considered their choice thoroughly, before making it, might be faced with the dawning realization that their choice was, in fact, incorrect. This is where teenagers aquire their stereotypical label: "Irresponsible". This is not always true. It is a common misconception, founded on the fact that teenagers are struggling with the need for individuality. They see a choice, not only as something they must deal with, but something that will prove them worthy of the removal of their "inferiority status". Thus, when a bad choice is made, a teenager will attempt to hide it. This is not always an irresponsible action. It is not something that is done for lack of ability to repair the damage, and/or deal with the reprecussions. It is done out of a subconscious sense of shame.

Even the most logical minded teenagers will be found guilty of this sin. Why is this? Why is it that teenagers are the only ones found guilty of this? The answer is simple. Teenagers are constantly under pressure. They struggle, every day, with the need to prove that they are not inferior to their elders.

Can it be said, then, that the fear of choice is what makes us? Then why does it seem to also be what breaks us? Again, the answer is simple. It is not the fear itself that shapes us. But how we deal with it. Which answers the un-asked question above. Why is it that adults don't seem affected by this, in the public eye? Because, for some un-explainable reason, it is acceptable for them to hide their bad choices. Arrogance. They assume that they have learned everything they need to know, and they feel as if it is no longer necessary to have their mistakes disected, and made example of.

Chronological age has very little to do with the maturity level of a person. I won't go as far as to say that it is entirely irrelivant, but it should not be the factor that names us. The sooner people realize this, the sooner bad choices will become easier to rectify. Do not fear choice. Do not fear your potential. Do not assume that you will make the wrong choice, and let it hold you back. When you find the courage to make your choice, that means that you've found the courage to admit that you are wrong. Whether or not it will become necessary to admit to that. You have surpassed your teacher. Do not let this lull you into a sense of completion, as we are never complete. You will become like those who sneer at teenagers for their poor choices. Never forget how hard it is to find the courage to not only make a choice, but deal with the reprecussions. If you succeed at this, you will realize. Your life is not directly comparable to that of a butterfly. Which completes it's metamorphosis and lives out the rest of it's life, secure in it's certainty of what it is. Your metamorphosis is never ending. If you feel that you have completed your transformation, than you are sorely mistaken, and you should re-evaluate your life. You have become the student who refuses to learn. You have become the arrogant adult, sneering at all who you now regard as inferior.

Do not fear choice. Fear that you may become someone who regards choice as inconsequential. Let this guide you through your days. Make your choices as best you can, and do not try to hide the results. Do not be ashamed of yourself, for as long as you do your best to deal with the choices you make. You are being the best person you can be. And that is all anyone can ask.

~D