Iegsaan Ally (email)
Toddlers can be the most fascinating creatures to watch. They have an insatiable lust for life and use up all their energy until they literally fall over from exhaustion.
As cute as they are, they can also be very tiring to take care of. If you are a parent, older sibling or just an occasional babysitter, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Sometimes we have to devise clever plans to keep them occupied and also safe from any possible danger.
As this bundle of joy approaches a dangerous object, or some rough terrain, we quickly provide them with a toy, or some other form of entertainment to distract them. Mission accomplished.
The interesting thing is that it’s not just the toddlers who get distracted, but also the teens. You are about to study for that big test when your favourite movie comes on tv. After the movie you finally get down to study when you need to “quickly” get updated on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. After an hour of this you desperately need a break from “studying”!
Adults are no better. The day you decide to be dept free, they deliver one of those home improvement magazines to your house and suddenly you need to renovate, or you are watching infomercials and you can’t believe that you are still use a spaghetti-mop. How could you live like this all these years!
I wonder if there are statistics available of students who almost graduated with degrees and diplomas, but didn’t due to some distraction. What about artists who almost became famous but didn’t because of not enough practice or time dedicated to their art form.
There is one statistic I do know of, and that is that 10 % of the world’s population owns 86% of the world’s wealth according to Global Wealth Report 2013 by Credit Suisse. Interesting?
In case you are wondering where you fit in…… Let me make it easy. If you are reading this article in the paper, then you probably stay in the Roodepoort area. Get it? You are not one of the 10%.
In a way, the world treats us all like a group of toddlers. Every time you aspire to something great, there is some new thing that distracts you. It keeps you busy while your goals evade you.
It’s quite easy for kids to watch television for two hours, but don’t expect them to study for that long. That’s asking too much!
Adults are worse. They complain about their job for years. There is too much nepotism and you are worth more than what they pay you. Well, the nepotism you can sort out with the Human Resources Department, and the fact is; we are all worth more than they pay us, it makes good business sense.
It only takes a few years to improve your qualifications part time, then, you don’t need someone to “get you in”.
And the worst distraction of all: negativity!
