WORTH IN A HIGH-SPEED WORLD

I saw an advertisement the other day. I really loved the ad. It's about how the present generation is impatient, how it cannot wait for the next thing and how much it hates to wait. It thought, 'Wow, this is so our generation, so much enthusiasm, so much spunk, so much creative energy.' It actually gave me goosebumps when I saw it for the first time. Then, I was chatting with this friend of mine and I told her about the ad Ihad seen and how much I loved it. Her reply, however, surprised me. She said 'I found it kind of demeaning'..... It really got me thinking 'What is this present generation really about? Why did she find it demeaning?' And then, I discovered something I had totally forgotten - worth.

The present generation is dynamic, moreso than any other generation preceding it. It wants stimulation, in any form possible. And anything new is eagerly accepted but readily discarded for the next best thing. In a world where new opportunities spring up everywhere and possibilities are limitless, it is easy to think that there will always be something else, of same or better value. No doubt, there are. Flitting from one thing to another seems like a really good life - enjoying the best of each one experience, yet not commiting oneself to onething so soon. This is the mantra of the new generation - have as mush experience as possible, try out everything first, never stick to one thing, expand your horizon, broaden your skills or social circle.

I don't mean to criticize this point. In fact, I think that it is a very good philosophy, to be able to broaden your views, thoughts and knowledge. That's where new art, music and literature come to be discovered. Yet, one important ingredient this generation seems to be lacking is value - good, old-fasioned value. I am not talking of values in terms of morals, but value in terms of reliability and worth, something which our parents have an abundance of, sometimes a little too much of, yet something which this present generation seems to be lacking in. It doesn't matter how versatile or attractive something is - if it lacks worth, it becomes useless after a while. Because even though there are new and even newer trends coming into existence, it is those things which have worth that eventually survive. And that worth is what anyone and everyone looks for, in the end.

A little goes a long way, but too little gets you nowhere. A little value, a little worth, a little experience and a little stability will get the new generation a very long way.