For our youth.

True Story from my life: I share this story with youth when I present "Scholar Warriors ~ The Not So Secret Weapon" I will be presenting this to a group of Ogden, Utah youth tomorrow morning.

There was a time in my life when I didn’t get along with my parents. They never let me do what I wanted to do. We were always arguing about little things. I tried to go to friend’s houses as often as I could, because I couldn’t handle the feeling at home. Don't get me wrong, my parents are great parents, and did the best job they could with a difficult child such as myself. I really had that attitude problem thing mastered. YUCK!

One day at a friend’s house I was explaining my frustration with my parents to my friend’s mom. She told me something that changed my life; something I will never forget.

She asked me, “Have you ever thought of just doing what they ask you to do?” I came back with, “That would never work.”

“Give it a try,” she said. “I bet that if you diligently do whatever they ask you to do for a week or so, they will give you more freedom to do the things that you want to do.”

I promised my neighbor that I would try this approach.

I went home, and said, “OK” to everything that my parents asked me to do. I had decided to obey, they didn’t make me, so I was in charge of my own happiness, and I was happy.

After about a week and a half, my parents were giving me all kinds of privileges. If I asked to go visit a friend, they said, “Sure.” If I asked to have friends over, they said, “Sure.”

Life was good again, because I had decided to make it good. I had decided to follow their instructions and counsel. I had decided to respect their authority from God to parent me.

I share this story with youth all the time, because this was the moment in my life when I really learned how to take control of my own emotions and relationships, in a good way. I didn't need an attitude any more. I also tell this story to my own children when they seem frustrated with getting so much negative feedback about attitudes etc. The story really motivates youth. It shows them another way. Feel free to share it with anyone you know that might benefit. 🙂