Author: cbarney.45

If it’s free, it isn’t valued. If you give something away “freely” to anyone/everyone, then whatever you are giving away loses its value. It’s economics 101…supply is high/scarcity is low, so demand is low. Not only that, but we typically want to stand out amongst our peers. “I have X, Y, and Z”…we compare ourselves to others. When everyone has what you have, it no longer makes you feel special, because it no longer differentiates you between anyone else.

This is why I don’t think college should be free. I love higher education. I encourage anyone to get a degree after high school. But college isn’t for everyone. And giving away free college is not the answer. Suddenly, a college education will mean “nothing” in the workplace because everyone will have one.

On a related note, I have mixed feelings about student loan forgiveness. I’ve paid off my student loans, but I did that by working throughout college 25+ hours per week, then after graduating, putting as much extra as I could toward that debt. To do so, I had to sacrifice other things. I didn’t go out eating or drinking with my friends as often as I liked, but we found other (cheaper) alternatives to hang out and have fun. I lived below my means, spending less than I made.

Everything in life has a trade off. If you want that college degree, great! But if you can’t afford it? Well, just like with anything else in life, if someone else loans you money, they’ll expect to get a return on their investment (getting their principal back with interest). If you agreed to borrow money from someone to buy something you couldn’t afford, then you should pay them back. It’s part of the deal that you agreed to. Just because you don’t like the deal doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep your end of it. Stay true to your word and pay off your debts. Don’t expect a free handout, which only hurts our government and teaches you that someone will be there to bail you out when you make poor life choices.

Sacrifice. Be an adult. Live on a budget. Keep your promises.

“I don’t think of all the misery but of all the beauty that still remains.” – Anne Frank

Your reality is all in your head. Everyone’s reality is different based on how they view the world around them. Even in bad times, you can focus on the good in life.

Luke 14:11 – “For all those who exult themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exulted.”

Ego is the enemy. Don’t put yourself on a pedestal. Don’t be boastful. Even if you are as good as you think you are, if you tell everyone how great you are people will dislike you and talk behind your back. 

But if you are humble and good at what you do, people will see this too. They will speak kindly of you. You will not need to boast, because others will do it for you. 

Last night, Andrew Luck, 29 year old quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, prodigy, described as a once in a generation-type quarterback, announced his retirement. This was unexpected. It was shocking. It rocked the NFL’s world, especially the Colts’ front office and fan base.

Ultimately, Luck said that it was “the hardest decision” of his life. I believe it. Others described the genuine joy that he had when playing the game. Teammates and competitors spoke highly of not only his play, but his character and his attitude. Nearly everyone had nice things to say and wished him luck in his future endeavors.

That is, everyone except for some Colts’ fans…

As Andrew Luck was walking back to the locker room (during the preseason game, at the end of the half), he was greeting by a mix of cheering and booing. I’d like to think that most people were cheering, but gosh, it was hard not to hear the boos.

This man had sacrificed so much for his team. He sacrificed his health for this team…not just short-term, but long-term as well. He has the right to walk away (from a sport he loves, no less) and should not be criticized for it.

To boo somebody, while seeming innocent enough, is actually a terrible thing to do. Do you not think that Andrew has explored all options, trying to find a way to get back to the game he loves and to play with teammates that he considers friends? It took tremendous courage to do what he did. To give something up that he cares about at the young age of 29. He should be entering his football prime. He should be working on putting up Hall of Fame numbers. But all of that is gone now. He already has the mental anguish of his decision. For others to pile on top of that is not right. Talk about kicking someone when they’re down…

Before you boo someone next time, put yourself in their shoes. They’re already hurt and feeling bad. Don’t make the situation worse. What do you get out of booing? Do you gain any satisfaction from it? Does it make you feel better about yourself? If so, you should probably take a look in the mirror and start working on yourself…

Just because others boo doesn’t mean that you have to. Be better than that.

The more items we own, the less we value them. Think of the rich kid with every toy on the planet. Do you think he/she will even notice if one toy is missing? Probably not. Compare that to a poor child with only a handful of toys…if they lose one toy, they notice. It affects them much more. 

Taking this one step further, you can also relate this to friendships. Having fewer friends, but being closer with them, is better than having a lot of “friends” who you barely talk or hang out with, let alone really “know.”

Less is more. Do not focus on the quantity of what you have/don’t have, focus on the quality. Don’t aim to know a bunch of people on a surface-level, but have deep, meaningful relationships instead.