The whole world should be reminded of this on a regular basis. Our individual history has created the person we are today, but we can change if we really want to. Sadly, the belief that “that’s just the way I am and so cannot change” is very prevalent in our society.

As an aside, it seems that every time I read about “self awareness”, “personal influences/childhood experiences” and, most importantly, “change”, My thoughts go back to our education system. They still appear to be totally focused on education in the context of “reading, writing, math” in preparation for a higher education and ultimately a “career” which is supposed to be productive and rewarding.

I have personally experienced an individual with very high academic qualifications who drives a city bus for his income. His perspective was that while the pay was quite good, the major benefit was that his working hours were scheduled/predictable. This allowed him to focus on his other interests which were mainly volunteering in public service areas.

As he noted to me, his academic qualifications may well have provided a route to a senior corporate position however, his life would likely have been dedicated to the subsequent responsibilities. His view of his future was not simply a high income! He felt a need to contribute to society in a way that provided tangible benefits to less fortunate individuals, and driving a city bus provided the means and the opportunity to do that.

It is sad that these perspectives are not covered in our education system.

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