The World Doesn’t Owe You A Thing!

It’s another foggy morning in Lima’s Spring of 1987, my brother and I have been fortunate enough to catch our connecting bus ride to school. As usual, the bus is packed to the point that people are hanging out the doors, and our noses have already gotten used to the rancid smells of the folks who push against us from every side. It’s just another school day.

As the bus makes its way through the city, we pass by the KFC restaurant that lies in ruins after the MRTA (Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement) set off a bomb that brought it down a day or two ago. e terrorists were “kind enough” to get everyone out before setting off the explosives so no one was seriously hurt. A bit farther we pass a very poor area where the mounds of garbage rise about 10 feet off the ground, and where children rummage through the trash for food or salvageable junk.

45 minutes later our bus finally arrives at our designated stop. Pushing and shoving we get off the bus to the muggy but fresh air outside. We are still about twelve blocks from school, so we hurriedly make our way, backpacks in tow. It doesn’t even register the number of kids that, covered in newspapers, sleep at the entrance of the businesses we pass along the way. We are just glad we made it to school with five minutes to spare before the doors close.

For a long time these memories were just recollections of times past, they did not seem to be anything out of the ordinary. But in perspective, I realize the messed up world we lived in, full of strife and misery all around us, my brothers and I however, appreciated the little joys of life and were very grateful for what we did have. Crazy to say, but we indeed had a very happy childhood.

On the other hand, as I fast forward to this day of safety and prosperity in the USA I observe a vastly dissatisfied younger generation. ey may drive themselves just five blocks to school and pay no bills, but still complain about the traffic, the poor cell phone reception, the boring cafeteria food, and how their clueless parents bought them the wrong color iPhone. In abundance they seem so deprived and unhappy. Which makes me wonder, what’s going on here?

In his book “Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter” Curtis Jackson, AKA “50 Cent”, seems to answer the question. He describes how his son, Marquise, fell into the entitlement trap because Curtis gave him everything he ever asked for. Marquise even came to resent his own father because Curtis could never do enough to satisfy Marquise’s demands for assistance.

Jackson concludes that “One should never feel like the world owes you anything. Because It doesn’t. It is all on you! And knowing that is liberating, because only then are you free to become the best version of yourself.”

While not a fan of his music, I do tend to agree with 50cent on this. But what do you think? Are we making our children feel entitled by giving them too much, too often, and too easily? Are we creating an Entitled Generation? Private Message me your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram @coloradokarate . I would love to post an update with your feedback.

Willy S. - Colorado Karate Club