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TRUTH WORKS

BALBOA PRESS

Contents

Foreword: Don't Believe Everything you Learn .........................................xIntroduction: Out with the Old and in with the True...................................xv• Chapter 1: Children Should be Seen and not Heard...............................1• Chapter 2: Money is the Root of all Evil?......................................9• Chapter 3: Life is not Fair!...................................................17• Chapter 4: Work Sucks..........................................................25• Chapter 5: You HAVE to Struggle to Get Ahead...................................35• Chapter 6: Keep your Friends Close and your Enemies Closer.....................41• Chapter 7: I Worry Because I Love You..........................................53• Chapter 8: You Can Judge a Man by the Company he Keeps.........................61• Chapter 9: You Make me Happy...................................................71• Chapter 10: Hope for the Best..................................................81• Chapter 11: You have to Fight Fire with Fire!..................................89• Chapter 12: Words can Never Hurt me!...........................................97• Chapter 13: Seeing is Believing................................................107• Chapter 14: Getting Old is a BLEEP!............................................117• Chapter 15: Suffering the Wrath of God.........................................127Afterword: Don't Follow the Leader....................................................137

Chapter One

It always felt awful to me that some adults felt they held power over me, as a child, simply because they were alive on this planet longer than me. The idea that children do not have the right to express themselves is one of the most ridiculous, not to mention damaging, sayings I have ever heard; it's why I chose to make it Chapter 1. It is simply 100% wrong to tell you that your opinions do not count and should be kept quiet simply because of your age.

Unfortunately, there are numerous sayings and phrases that demand kids be silent. These negative notions can set up the belief that what you have to say does not matter, that, in some way you do not matter. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every person on this earth is significant and has a purpose. The sooner you learn this, the sooner you can live your life confidently focused on fulfilling that purpose.

For the most part, grown-ups probably tell you to "keep quiet" to correct your behavior and have you STOP doing whatever it is they deem as wrong. Unfortunately, this method does nothing to explain what was bothersome and why, so you can learn to avoid the behavior in the future. Adults also demand quiet with these statements because kids tend to make noise and sometimes adults need silence. In fact, silence is very important. It is in that quiet where we can connect with God. Although the desire for peace and quiet is good, the manner in which it is sometimes demanded is not. Think about how it makes you feel when you hear any of the following statements:

• Shush

• Shut up

• Be quiet

• Pipe down

• Silence!

• Zip it

• Shut your mouth

• Truth Works

• Shut your face

• Shut your pie hole

• Shut your trap

• Zip your lip

• Shut it

• Put a sock in it

• Put a cork in it

• Keep it down

If you were to say anything like this, an adult would correct your behavior (maybe even punish you). The truth is; none of us should talk this way to anybody. That is why it is so important to explain these types of cliché sayings that kids hear every day, everywhere. It is also essential to understand the underlying negative impact they can have, which may not be obvious to adults who heard them when they were children and now use them as part of their parenting.

It is through understanding that you will learn to ignore the negativity of the lessons you are taught and be able to discern the truth. For example, "Children should be seen and not heard" may not be intended to shut you down or make you feel that what you are saying is insignificant. It simply may be a nasty way to ask for some peace and quiet or, perhaps you said something that embarrassed the adult delivering this message to you.

Whatever the reason, the message is still completely negative and totally untrue. Children should definitely be seen and heard with all of the glory and potential they bring to each and every situation. As human beings, you have permission to speak your mind freely, but you must do so with respect. As a kid you may not know how to act with societal appropriateness in every situation or how to speak your thoughts in a civil manner all the time. This can be frustrating to adults and, instead of spending time explaining some of these things, they rely on silly old sayings that make no sense; causing confusion and self-doubt that can have a long lasting and negative impact.

This does not mean that everything you say will be wonderful. You'll make mistakes and will need to be corrected from time to time. This will not make you a bad person or mean that what you say does not matter. You should always choose words carefully. Speak the truth in a thoughtful manner at all times. Think before you speak and if you are unsure, talk in private if possible to avoid a communication problem.

If you can, be an agent of change. I remember telling my daughter to "shut up" once when she was around 9 years old. She told me that I hurt her feelings and I felt terrible; her opinion changed mine. I decided from that point on to avoid that type of language in our house. Still, I knew she might hear it elsewhere. No matter where language like this comes from, when it is being spewed at us it can have an effect and make us feel powerless; but with awareness it does not have to.

It is important to know that words said to you do not have to define you. Remember, you matter to God and nothing anyone ever says to you can change that. The next time an adult is asking you to be quiet, in a not so nice way (like some of the statements I listed in this chapter), politely and respectfully let them know that you would be happy to stop talking or making noise but could they please ask in a less hurtful manner. If you ask this and are punished physically (beaten or worse), you must seek help immediately with your local authorities like the police or school social worker; physical punishment should never be tolerated.

Just because you are young does not mean that you have to act in the same manner as the people around you. If the grown-ups in your life are rude or holding onto to the negative ideas we'll discuss in this book, you do not have to join them. In other words, you are your own person and you can break the cycle of destructive beliefs and behavior by simply choosing not to act in that manner. Be yourself, set your own example, and choose what you want to believe, say and do. Of course, you will still have to obey the adults in your life to a certain extent until you are one (curfew, schedules, chores, homework, etc ...), but that does not mean that they control your Spirit.

Spirit is who we all really are, at our core being, it is what...