I thought I might start my column this week by saying a nice phrase about the young people of today. The future is in our hands but try as we might; there is nothing we can do about it. Besides, why would we want to do that? There is so much we can do for everyone to make this world a better place and if not for the world then at least for our home…Eeyou Estchee.
Many people need help in Eeyou Estchee because of alcohol, drugs, school dropouts, violence but many people do not want to admit it to themselves.
I just think it’s important for the young people of today to know that they are wanted and needed. People have to accept themselves for who they are. There is only so much you can do as one person. But you must help yourself before you can help anyone else. It’s always good to help Elders or children but your good life will end up in a tragedy because you will wake up one day and realize that even though you’ve helped so many people; you are not at peace with yourself. In so many cases, people live to be as old as they are because of the love from another person. Love is very powerful and people take it for granted. The people, who use it everyday like it meant nothing, have no idea how powerful love is. Love is so strong that it makes you want to be a better person for him or her.
You must look deep inside your soul and find the reason you were put on this world for. This may be a hard task to accomplish but when you do, your whole life will have a different meaning.
When people feel they are not wanted, their life will often have no meaning to them whatsoever. One way to make people feel comfortable about themselves is to comment on what they do. Whether it’s good or bad. If it’s good, compliment them on how good it was. If it was bad then tell them how they could improve it. There is always something you can say for any given situation. Tell the person that he can tell you anything at any time. If he has a problem in the middle of the night and he has to talk to someone, make sure that he knows he or she can call no matter what time it is. Make an effort to help people believe in themselves. Make them realize that they are there for a reason and that the people who surround him or her love them.
Treat everyone equally and life shall reward you for your good heart. Although it may not always be so easy to do so, search in the deepest bowels of your soul and you will see that most people are not such bad people. If you get to know them, you will see what position he or she is in and understand the reason he is the way he is is far greater a deal than you’d expected.
Always try to be understanding and willing to listen to others. Never judge a person by your first impression of him or her.
Over the years. I’ve noticed that some of the nicest people are the ones who are different from you. You can always learn new things from people who are different from you. They have lived different life styles in different places and have experienced many things that you have not. Anyone who can teach you can make a difference in your life. Whether it be for better or worse, at least you have the knowledge of it and will have an idea of what you can do if ever anything similar to that happens.
People are afraid of what’s different from them. People are afraid of the unknown. But what I always said to myself. What I don’t know can’t hurt me. Although that may be true at times and not at other times, what I’m basically trying to say is do not interfere in other peoples business and nothing should go wrong. Once you interfere, who knows what a certain person doesn’t want you to know thus causing this particular person to actually think about hurting you.
Although they are tempted to hurt people for no reason at all, they know that what they are doing is wrong and will often abstain from doing anything. All you have to do is show them that you are not afraid.
If any of you have anything to share with me or the rest of The Nation or if you have a subject you’d like to me talk about in a future article, contact me at Bessum@beesum-communications.com I will be glad to receive your comments.
There are many people and places where you can go for help:
Talk to a respected Elder in your community.
Or speak to a councilor in your community
There are hotlines for all of your needs:
Sexual assault: 934-4504
Drugs: help and referrals: 527-2626 Kids help phone: 1-800-668-6868 Tel-Aide: 935-1101
Suicide Action Montreal: 723-4000
