I I Me Me

Self-Entitlement, it's a phrase I've heard being thrown around a lot lately. How has it become so ingrained in our society?

I'm not talking about our grandparents or our parents. They know what hard work is and eveything they have acquired through life they have most definately earned. I'm talking about us 20 and 30 somethings. Where do we get off just expecting to get the things we want, without so much as having to exert a small amount of hard work and energy? And please bear in mind, I am generalising here and all you self-entitled persons know who you are!!!

Right off the bat, we want the most luxurious car, the penthouse apartment, the manager's job, top of the range iPhone and, and, and. We think that because we got our degree we now know everything and therefore get everything. What happened to working our way up?

I have also witnessed those who are nothing more than talented in brown nosing and this seems to take people far. Schooled on the latest jokes and always ready to point the finger when things go wrong. Management is jumping at the opportunity to promote these folk.

For us who show initiative, street smarts, passion and for the most part, do our job efficiently and well, this is frowned upon. We can also "prove" ourselves to the death, yet if an opportunity arises for promotion, someone from outside the institution gets the buy in. Probably one of those 20-30 something self-entitled blokes.

I'm not suprised so many impressionable youngsters have this attitude when you look at those who are considered role models: the Paris Hilton's, Kardashians and WAG's of the world, riding on the coat tails of their family or husbands history and success.

I also wonder why those who have worked so hard to reap their rewards don't instill such character in their children, instead of giving them whatever it is they want. Have you ever seen "My Sweet 16"? Impressionable teenagers are watching this stuff!

I too would love to have whatever I want, whenever I want, but unfortunately I was not born with the self-entitlement gene and I sure wasn't encouraged to demand such abundancies. I have been lucky and my folks have tried to provide for many of our wants and all our needs, but not our demands.

When will all this self-entitlement and greed end? Who know's, but I do know, that as long as I surround myself with the family and friends I have now, there is much hope for the future of our society.

'Tis the Season

Wow, so quickly December is upon us. I say this every year, but I swear it creeps up on us much faster as we get older (Not that I'm old or anything!)

Every month I pray for pay day only to watch all my pennies fall by the wayside to bills, bills and more bills.....December is so much worse. Not only do you have to worry about bills, bills, bills, but now there are gifts, gifts, gifts!!! What???

Christmas has become mercilessly over commercialised. Last weekend marked the end of the month and the beginning of the crazy season...and boy was it crazy! I went to our local shopping mall to buy some necessities and it was just well, crazy, already. The next few weeks are going to be brutal for retailers. Apparently people in South Africa are starting to spend again after the recession, just at the right time.

I remember the old days, when shopping was not a pass time but only if you really, really needed something. When the shops were CLOSED on a Sunday...scandalous! Can you imagine not being able to "shop" on a Sunday?  Sounds like heaven to me........

I say to everyone, including myself, let's not shop on a Sunday. Let's spend the day with family, celebrating love and togetherness, become one with nature, go on a picnic, go to the beach, have a braai, play a round of golf, lounge by the pool and read a really good book. When it's raining, watch a great DVD or the Discovery channel, play a boardgame, play the Wii, read a really good book. Sounds like heaven to me.....

Get back to basics, Sunday is a rest day! Then we can stop being so busy, busy, busy!!!!