25 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE READ THIS ARTICLE! _ The older we get the more we feel like young people need to encouraged to take some general life skills courses. Or maybe we could all print off a copy of 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person, an article that first appeared on cracked.com on December 17, 2012. Since Jason Pargin wrote it 13 years ago his article has been read 25 million times! Here’s the abridged version of 6 Hard Truths That Will Make You a Better Person.
1. The World Only Cares About What It Can Get from You – Society values people based on what they can provide, not on their intentions or inherent qualities. No matter how nice or well-meaning you are, if you don’t have useful skills or can’t meet others’ needs, you will be overlooked or rejected.
2. The Hippies Were Wrong – You are defined by what you do, not by who you are inside or how you feel about yourself. The world expects results and usefulness, not just good intentions or a pleasant personality, and your job or skills become your identity in the eyes of others.
3. What You Produce Does Not Have to Make Money, But It Does Have to Benefit People – It’s not about making money, but about providing value to others in some way. Simply being a “nice person” isn’t enough; you must offer something tangible or beneficial to those around you to be valued.
4. You Hate Yourself Because You Don’t Do Anything – Self-loathing often stems from a lack of meaningful action or creation, not from low self-esteem or external negativity. Consuming what others make without producing anything yourself leads to dissatisfaction and a sense of worthlessness.
5. What You Are Inside Only Matters Because of What It Makes You Do – Your internal qualities only matter if they result in positive actions or outcomes for others. Good intentions, thoughts, or feelings are meaningless unless they manifest as real, helpful deeds in the world.
6. Everything Inside You Will Fight Improvement – Your mind will resist change and improvement, using excuses, defensiveness, and rationalizations to avoid discomfort. True growth requires overcoming these internal barriers and taking action, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable.
HOW HOT IS IT? _ It’s so hot…
… We’ve moved the couch into the fridge.
… I just saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.
… The ice cream truck just changed its sign to “soup truck.”
… I saw a bird using potholders to pull a worm out of the ground.
… The fire hydrants are begging dogs to relieve themselves.
… Even the sun is looking for some shade.
… My air conditioner just gave me a resignation letter.
YOU KNOW YOU DRINK TOO MUCH COFFEE _ You know you drink too much coffee when…
… your coworkers get a caffeine buzz off your breath.
… you can thread the sewing machine while it’s running.
… you get a speeding ticket even when you’re parked.
… you start skiing uphill.
… you want to be cremated just so you can spend eternity in a coffee can.
