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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 20 Things Boys Can Do to Become Men
Kareem's got some pretty good advice.
http://shine.yahoo.com/team-mom/kareems-20-tips-son-150200306.html#!kwSFL
1. Learn who you are as an individual.
Figuring out who you are, what you care about, what you believe in, and what you stand for is the most important-and most difficult-challenge of becoming a man. We're all raised with people telling us what to think, how to act, and what to say. Sometimes those people are parents, teachers, ministers, and other so-called authorities. Sometimes they are our friends and peers. Most of the time, given the choice, we seek the easiest path, the path of least resistance. We go along to get along. Sometimes that's okay. But it's those instances when you opt for a different path that can really define you as an individual. The important thing is you make those decisions for yourself-not out of spite against authority figures, or because of peer pressure, or even out of fear of losing someone's affection-but out of conviction of who you are and who you want to be.
Figuring out who you are, what you care about, what you believe in, and what you stand for is the most important-and most difficult-challenge of becoming a man. We're all raised with people telling us what to think, how to act, and what to say. Sometimes those people are parents, teachers, ministers, and other so-called authorities. Sometimes they are our friends and peers. Most of the time, given the choice, we seek the easiest path, the path of least resistance. We go along to get along. Sometimes that's okay. But it's those instances when you opt for a different path that can really define you as an individual. The important thing is you make those decisions for yourself-not out of spite against authority figures, or because of peer pressure, or even out of fear of losing someone's affection-but out of conviction of who you are and who you want to be.
2. Stand up for yourself and your beliefs.
British statesman Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." That's one of my favorite quotes because it reminds me that it's not enough to have lofty ideals and beliefs, you sometimes have to actually get off the couch and defend those beliefs. This is especially hard when you're hanging with your friends and they all express an opinion that is the opposite of yours. Because you're outnumbered, it's easy for them to ridicule your opinion. Be strong. Defend your opinions and beliefs. If you think it's wrong to be racist but someone in your group says something racist (or sexist, or ant-Semitic, or anti-gay), then tell them you don't agree and that you don't think they should make such statements. That's how these verbal bullies are eventually defeated. More important, you'll feel proud that you took a stand. Those moments you do nothing will haunt you for a long time.
British statesman Edmund Burke once said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." That's one of my favorite quotes because it reminds me that it's not enough to have lofty ideals and beliefs, you sometimes have to actually get off the couch and defend those beliefs. This is especially hard when you're hanging with your friends and they all express an opinion that is the opposite of yours. Because you're outnumbered, it's easy for them to ridicule your opinion. Be strong. Defend your opinions and beliefs. If you think it's wrong to be racist but someone in your group says something racist (or sexist, or ant-Semitic, or anti-gay), then tell them you don't agree and that you don't think they should make such statements. That's how these verbal bullies are eventually defeated. More important, you'll feel proud that you took a stand. Those moments you do nothing will haunt you for a long time.
12. Never, never do something on a dare.
"I dare you" may be the three most dangerous words in the language for kids. The challenge to prove yourself to others is very tempting, especially since the alternative seems to be showing yourself to be a coward. But that's not really the case. The person who dares you is counting on your not being strong or smart enough to see this challenge as the empty, laughable joke it is. The person who refuses a dare displays intelligence, courage, and independence. And that's what daring someone is trying to rob them of.
"I dare you" may be the three most dangerous words in the language for kids. The challenge to prove yourself to others is very tempting, especially since the alternative seems to be showing yourself to be a coward. But that's not really the case. The person who dares you is counting on your not being strong or smart enough to see this challenge as the empty, laughable joke it is. The person who refuses a dare displays intelligence, courage, and independence. And that's what daring someone is trying to rob them of.
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Classic!
