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Reality Check

Reality Check Kids are great, aren’t they? They can spend hours playing with a spoon and a bowl. They have a profound and admirable sense of innocence. A child sees things in a completely different way than adults do. Adults see a woman in a flashy dress with extravagant jewelry, and they think to themselves “What a hussy!” A child can see the exact same lady and merely think “Pretty lady.” Are adults just pessimistic, self-absorbed morons with nothing better to do than criticize? I hope not, because that is not what I want to be. I think that the reason is culture and language. A child may live in the same culture as the critical adult, but it is apparent that there is a difference in thought. Perhaps, it is television or personal experience. The big difference is that children speak a different language than adults. The words may sound the same, but the meanings that lie underneath are distinct. This brings me to my conclusion that there are just as many realities as there are languages. Language influences our thoughts and understanding. The realities that we all know are the product of our surroundings and particularly the things that we are told. What is all this talk about reality and language? How can we question and analyze reality? Reality is just there. Yes, it is there, but it exists in so many forms. Are we confused yet? Good, then we are ready! We all view the world in a unique way. There are not any two people who see the world in exactly the same way. A lot of our thoughts and beliefs extend from the teachings of our parents or other key figures. When we accidentally took that first candy bar from the store without paying, who made us take it back and pay for the item we had “stolen”? Our parents probably did. They are the ones who teach us that stealing is bad, and that random acts of kindness like sharing are noble. If my mother had taught me that stealing was acceptable, then it is likely that I would have spent my days stealing. This would probably be the case until the language of another person changed my reality. It could be a courtroom judge telling me how pitiful stealing is and then sentencing me to 150 hours of community service. The judge’s language, as well as her actions, could very well have reshaped my reality. I could quite possibly come to a new conclusion that stealing is in fact bad and dishonorable. Not only is the world full of different realities, but each of our own realities could change at any time. Stealing may not be a good example, because it is hard to disagree with something that is so indisputable. You can not really argue that stealing is good without looking like an absolute moron. Well, consider this. Take out an old picture of yourself. Preferably ten years ago, or so. Now, I am looking at a picture of myself in the sixth grade. It is my class picture and it sure does yell, “Tacky!” Fashion don’ts everywhere from hair to shoes to accessories. My hair is outrageous. The wave creatively formed with my bangs looks more like a fire hazard. It probably took an entire bottle of hairspray just to make the hair stand up like it is. What was I thinking? Oh, and the shirt? It is awful. It is the most disgusting shade of green and I can’t believe how popular bright colors used to be. Everything from neon pink to neon blue. I look like a really bad mistake. The guys look 10 times as bad. Remember those baggy parachute-type pants that were once very popular? Almost every guy is wearing the “MC Hammer” pants with outrageous colors and styles. All of these styles came about simply because some designer said that parachute pants are cool and the wave hairstyle is “in”. That designer was able to convince an entire population of young adults that these fads are cool. Then came along another designer who insisted that these clothes are out of style. Suddenly, parachute pants disappear off of store racks and hairstyles change in a matter of weeks. Now, bell-bottoms are cool and short hair is the hot new style for girls. Who will come along and tell us that this is no longer hip? Reality may seem too complicated to compare to parachute pants so let us dive deeper. Let’s compare two kids: a boy from Ethiopia and a boy from Beverly Hills. The parents of the California native taught him that happiness is about money and materials. They always said, “Son, if you ever want to be happy, you have to be successful and make a lot of money.” Not surprisingly, the boy believes that the world is all about money. He wants the finest clothes and most extravagant gifts. Through their language, his parents have created a reality for the boy. Every time the young boy sees a person that is poor, he quickly assumes that he or she is also not happy. I happen to know many people who are not blessed financially, but they are some of the happiest people in the world. We are going to Ethiopia now. We understand this country to be poor and disadvantaged. The young boy from Ethiopia, believe it or not, is very happy with his life. He spends his days frolicking with his brothers and sisters. He has no worries and he has everything he needs. His parents always say, “Son, money is the root of all evil and being rich is not important.” Ultimately, the boy believes that rich people are evil, because they have so much money. The Ethiopian boy’s reality is very different than the boy from California. One centers his life around money while the other has no regard for the uses of money. Neither reality is better or right, only different. What parents say to their kids has such a strong influence on a child’s view of the world. Language shapes all aspects of our lives. Why do reporters have the privilege of deciding what events are important in our lives? What does this mean you ask? Well, a reporter selects which stories he would like to broadcast on the air, and those are the stories that we hear about. What a reporter tells us strongly influences our view of reality. When a news broadcaster continually airs stories about shootings, murders, and crimes, then our reality takes on the shape of a rather violent world. In another country, like Japan, violence is not so commonplace. Japanese have a more pacified view of reality, because violence is not so openly spoke about. See how words and language shape reality for each of us? Humans can not help being influenced by what is said to them. We can not forget things that we hear. First impressions are weighted heavily in our world. Why? It is because the language we use influences what other people think about us. If I meet a man and he is poorly spoken, then I will be quick to assume that he is not intelligent. His words shaped a reality in my mind about him. He may in fact have an IQ of 115 and be the inventor of toasters for all I know. This shows that reality may not be what is real. The way we see things, may not be the real story. Overall, people are quick to judge and this creates false pretenses for many of us. We should not accept a reality that has been told to us, rather take what we know and investigate it to create our own reality. The influences of language will still hold true, but an awareness of this can make all the difference. Have you ever thought that someone is mean just because someone says so, even though you have never met this alleged “mean” person? You shaped a reality about a person without even talking to him. Language is strong and unavoidable. Its power is remarkable and confusing. How can words be so overbearing, and seem so simple? Every day we probably shape reality for someone just by the words we say. Reality never seemed so mysterious until now. Each of us just takes in reality for what it is. It is amazing to think that we can actually create and shape our own reality. You won’t make the world triangle or the sky purple, but you can decide if your reality is filled with joy or misery. We should all be nonconformists and make the world the way we want it to be. If your teacher says that college is hard and just the beginning of a very rocky road, turn to her and say, “In my reality, college is fun and just the beginning of a wonderful life filled with happiness! I will not let your words shape my reality!” Will she dare argue with you? Kids are great, aren’t they? They can spend hours playing with a spoon and a bowl. They have a profound and admirable sense of innocence. A child sees things in a completely different way than adults do. Adults see a woman in a flashy dress with extravagant jewelry, and they think to themselves “What a hussy!” A child can see the exact same lady and merely think “Pretty lady.” Are adults just pessimistic, self-absorbed morons with nothing better to do than criticize? I hope not, because that is not what I want to be. I think that the reason is culture and language. A child may live in the same culture as the critical adult, but it is apparent that there is a difference in thought. Perhaps, it is television or personal experience. The big difference is that children speak a different language than adults. The words may sound the same, but the meanings that lie underneath are distinct. This brings me to my conclusion that there are just as many realities as there are languages. Language influences our thoughts and understanding. The realities that we all know are the product of our surroundings and particularly the things that we are told. What is all this talk about reality and language? How can we question and analyze reality? Reality is just there. Yes, it is there, but it exists in so many forms. Are we confused yet? Good, then we are ready! We all view the world in a unique way. There are not any two people who see the world in exactly the same way. A lot of our thoughts and beliefs extend from the teachings of our parents or other key figures. When we accidentally took that first candy bar from the store without paying, who made us take it back and pay for the item we had “stolen”? Our parents probably did. They are the ones who teach us that stealing is bad, and that random acts of kindness like sharing are noble. If my mother had taught me that stealing was acceptable, then it is likely that I would have spent my days stealing. This would probably be the case until the language of another person changed my reality. It could be a courtroom judge telling me how pitiful stealing is and then sentencing me to 150 hours of community service. The judge’s language, as well as her actions, could very well have reshaped my reality. I could quite possibly come to a new conclusion that stealing is in fact bad and dishonorable. Not only is the world full of different realities, but each of our own realities could change at any time. Stealing may not be a good example, because it is hard to disagree with something that is so indisputable. You can not really argue that stealing is good without looking like an absolute moron. Well, consider this. Take out an old picture of yourself. Preferably ten years ago, or so. Now, I am looking at a picture of myself in the sixth grade. It is my class picture and it sure does yell, “Tacky!” Fashion don’ts everywhere from hair to shoes to accessories. My hair is outrageous. The wave creatively formed with my bangs looks more like a fire hazard. It probably took an entire bottle of hairspray just to make the hair stand up like it is. What was I thinking? Oh, and the shirt? It is awful. It is the most disgusting shade of green and I can’t believe how popular bright colors used to be. Everything from neon pink to neon blue. I look like a really bad mistake. The guys look 10 times as bad. Remember those baggy parachute-type pants that were once very popular? Almost every guy is wearing the “MC Hammer” pants with outrageous colors and styles. All of these styles came about simply because some designer said that parachute pants are cool and the wave hairstyle is “in”. That designer was able to convince an entire population of young adults that these fads are cool. Then came along another designer who insisted that these clothes are out of style. Suddenly, parachute pants disappear off of store racks and hairstyles change in a matter of weeks. Now, bell-bottoms are cool and short hair is the hot new style for girls. Who will come along and tell us that this is no longer hip? Reality may seem too complicated to compare to parachute pants so let us dive deeper. Let’s compare two kids: a boy from Ethiopia and a boy from Beverly Hills. The parents of the California native taught him that happiness is about money and materials. They always said, “Son, if you ever want to be happy, you have to be successful and make a lot of money.” Not surprisingly, the boy believes that the world is all about money. He wants the finest clothes and most extravagant gifts. Through their language, his parents have created a reality for the boy. Every time the young boy sees a person that is poor, he quickly assumes that he or she is also not happy. I happen to know many people who are not blessed financially, but they are some of the happiest people in the world. We are going to Ethiopia now. We understand this country to be poor and disadvantaged. The young boy from Ethiopia, believe it or not, is very happy with his life. He spends his days frolicking with his brothers and sisters. He has no worries and he has everything he needs. His parents always say, “Son, money is the root of all evil and being rich is not important.” Ultimately, the boy believes that rich people are evil, because they have so much money. The Ethiopian boy’s reality is very different than the boy from California. One centers his life around money while the other has no regard for the uses of money. Neither reality is better or right, only different. What parents say to their kids has such a strong influence on a child’s view of the world. Language shapes all aspects of our lives. Why do reporters have the privilege of deciding what events are important in our lives? What does this mean you ask? Well, a reporter selects which stories he would like to broadcast on the air, and those are the stories that we hear about. What a reporter tells us strongly influences our view of reality. When a news broadcaster continually airs stories about shootings, murders, and crimes, then our reality takes on the shape of a rather violent world. In another country, like Japan, violence is not so commonplace. Japanese have a more pacified view of reality, because violence is not so openly spoke about. See how words and language shape reality for each of us? Humans can not help being influenced by what is said to them. We can not forget things that we hear. First impressions are weighted heavily in our world. Why? It is because the language we use influences what other people think about us. If I meet a man and he is poorly spoken, then I will be quick to assume that he is not intelligent. His words shaped a reality in my mind about him. He may in fact have an IQ of 115 and be the inventor of toasters for all I know. This shows that reality may not be what is real. The way we see things, may not be the real story. Overall, people are quick to judge and this creates false pretenses for many of us. We should not accept a reality that has been told to us, rather take what we know and investigate it to create our own reality. The influences of language will still hold true, but an awareness of this can make all the difference. Have you ever thought that someone is mean just because someone says so, even though you have never met this alleged “mean” person? You shaped a reality about a person without even talking to him. Language is strong and unavoidable. Its power is remarkable and confusing. How can words be so overbearing, and seem so simple? Every day we probably shape reality for someone just by the words we say. Reality never seemed so mysterious until now. Each of us just takes in reality for what it is. It is amazing to think that we can actually create and shape our own reality. You won’t make the world triangle or the sky purple, but you can decide if your reality is filled with joy or misery. We should all be nonconformists and make the world the way we want it to be. If your teacher says that college is hard and just the beginning of a very rocky road, turn to her and say, “In my reality, college is fun and just the beginning of a wonderful life filled with happiness! I will not let your words shape my reality!” Will she dare argue with you? Kids are great, aren’t they? They can spend hours playing with a spoon and a bowl. They have a profound and admirable sense of innocence. A child sees things in a completely different way than adults do. Adults see a woman in a flashy dress with extravagant jewelry, and they think to themselves “What a hussy!” A child can see the exact same lady and merely think “Pretty lady.” Are adults just pessimistic, self-absorbed morons with nothing better to do than criticize? I hope not, because that is not what I want to be. I think that the reason is culture and language. A child may live in the same culture as the critical adult, but it is apparent that there is a difference in thought. Perhaps, it is television or personal experience. The big difference is that children speak a different language than adults. The words may sound the same, but the meanings that lie underneath are distinct. This brings me to my conclusion that there are just as many realities as there are languages. Language influences our thoughts and understanding. The realities that we all know are the product of our surroundings and particularly the things that we are told. What is all this talk about reality and language? How can we question and analyze reality? Reality is just there. Yes, it is there, but it exists in so many forms. Are we confused yet? Good, then we are ready! We all view the world in a unique way. There are not any two people who see the world in exactly the same way. A lot of our thoughts and beliefs extend from the teachings of our parents or other key figures. When we accidentally took that first candy bar from the store without paying, who made us take it back and pay for the item we had “stolen”? Our parents probably did. They are the ones who teach us that stealing is bad, and that random acts of kindness like sharing are noble. If my mother had taught me that stealing was acceptable, then it is likely that I would have spent my days stealing. This would probably be the case until the language of another person changed my reality. It could be a courtroom judge telling me how pitiful stealing is and then sentencing me to 150 hours of community service. The judge’s language, as well as her actions, could very well have reshaped my reality. I could quite possibly come to a new conclusion that stealing is in fact bad and dishonorable. Not only is the world full of different realities, but each of our own realities could change at any time. Stealing may not be a good example, because it is hard to disagree with something that is so indisputable. You can not really argue that stealing is good without looking like an absolute moron. Well, consider this. Take out an old picture of yourself. Preferably ten years ago, or so. Now, I am looking at a picture of myself in the sixth grade. It is my class picture and it sure does yell, “Tacky!” Fashion don’ts everywhere from hair to shoes to accessories. My hair is outrageous. The wave creatively formed with my bangs looks more like a fire hazard. It probably took an entire bottle of hairspray just to make the hair stand up like it is. What was I thinking? Oh, and the shirt? It is awful. It is the most disgusting shade of green and I can’t believe how popular bright colors used to be. Everything from neon pink to neon blue. I look like a really bad mistake. The guys look 10 times as bad. Remember those baggy parachute-type pants that were once very popular? Almost every guy is wearing the “MC Hammer” pants with outrageous colors and styles. All of these styles came about simply because some designer said that parachute pants are cool and the wave hairstyle is “in”. That designer was able to convince an entire population of young adults that these fads are cool. Then came along another designer who insisted that these clothes are out of style. Suddenly, parachute pants disappear off of store racks and hairstyles change in a matter of weeks. Now, bell-bottoms are cool and short hair is the hot new style for girls. Who will come along and tell us that this is no longer hip? Reality may seem too complicated to compare to parachute pants so let us dive deeper. Let’s compare two kids: a boy from Ethiopia and a boy from Beverly Hills. The parents of the California native taught him that happiness is about money and materials. They always said, “Son, if you ever want to be happy, you have to be successful and make a lot of money.” Not surprisingly, the boy believes that the world is all about money. He wants the finest clothes and most extravagant gifts. Through their language, his parents have created a reality for the boy. Every time the young boy sees a person that is poor, he quickly assumes that he or she is also not happy. I happen to know many people who are not blessed financially, but they are some of the happiest people in the world. We are going to Ethiopia now. We understand this country to be poor and disadvantaged. The young boy from Ethiopia, believe it or not, is very happy with his life. He spends his days frolicking with his brothers and sisters. He has no worries and he has everything he needs. His parents always say, “Son, money is the root of all evil and being rich is not important.” Ultimately, the boy believes that rich people are evil, because they have so much money. The Ethiopian boy’s reality is very different than the boy from California. One centers his life around money while the other has no regard for the uses of money. Neither reality is better or right, only different. What parents say to their kids has such a strong influence on a child’s view of the world. Language shapes all aspects of our lives. Why do reporters have the privilege of deciding what events are important in our lives? What does this mean you ask? Well, a reporter selects which stories he would like to broadcast on the air, and those are the stories that we hear about. What a reporter tells us strongly influences our view of reality. When a news broadcaster continually airs stories about shootings, murders, and crimes, then our reality takes on the shape of a rather violent world. In another country, like Japan, violence is not so commonplace. Japanese have a more pacified view of reality, because violence is not so openly spoke about. See how words and language shape reality for each of us? Humans can not help being influenced by what is said to them. We can not forget things that we hear. First impressions are weighted heavily in our world. Why? It is because the language we use influences what other people think about us. If I meet a man and he is poorly spoken, then I will be quick to assume that he is not intelligent. His words shaped a reality in my mind about him. He may in fact have an IQ of 115 and be the inventor of toasters for all I know. This shows that reality may not be what is real. The way we see things, may not be the real story. Overall, people are quick to judge and this creates false pretenses for many of us. We should not accept a reality that has been told to us, rather take what we know and investigate it to create our own reality. The influences of language will still hold true, but an awareness of this can make all the difference. Have you ever thought that someone is mean just because someone says so, even though you have never met this alleged “mean” person? You shaped a reality about a person without even talking to him. Language is strong and unavoidable. Its power is remarkable and confusing. How can words be so overbearing, and seem so simple? Every day we probably shape reality for someone just by the words we say. Reality never seemed so mysterious until now. Each of us just takes in reality for what it is. It is amazing to think that we can actually create and shape our own reality. You won’t make the world triangle or the sky purple, but you can decide if your reality is filled with joy or misery. We should all be nonconformists and make the world the way we want it to be. If your teacher says that college is hard and just the beginning of a very rocky road, turn to her and say, “In my reality, college is fun and just the beginning of a wonderful life filled with happiness! I will not let your words shape my reality!” Will she dare argue with you? Kids are great, aren’t they? They can spend hours playing with a spoon and a bowl. They have a profound and admirable sense of innocence. A child sees things in a completely different way than adults do. Adults see a woman in a flashy dress with extravagant jewelry, and they think to themselves “What a hussy!” A child can see the exact same lady and merely think “Pretty lady.” Are adults just pessimistic, self-absorbed morons with nothing better to do than criticize? I hope not, because that is not what I want to be. I think that the reason is culture and language. A child may live in the same culture as the critical adult, but it is apparent that there is a difference in thought. Perhaps, it is television or personal experience. The big difference is that children speak a different language than adults. The words may sound the same, but the meanings that lie underneath are distinct. This brings me to my conclusion that there are just as many realities as there are languages. Language influences our thoughts and understanding. The realities that we all know are the product of our surroundings and particularly the things that we are told. What is all this talk about reality and language? How can we question and analyze reality? Reality is just there. Yes, it is there, but it exists in so many forms. Are we confused yet? Good, then we are ready! We all view the world in a unique way. There are not any two people who see the world in exactly the same way. A lot of our thoughts and beliefs extend from the teachings of our parents or other key figures. When we accidentally took that first candy bar from the store without paying, who made us take it back and pay for the item we had “stolen”? Our parents probably did. They are the ones who teach us that stealing is bad, and that random acts of kindness like sharing are noble. If my mother had taught me that stealing was acceptable, then it is likely that I would have spent my days stealing. This would probably be the case until the language of another person changed my reality. It could be a courtroom judge telling me how pitiful stealing is and then sentencing me to 150 hours of community service. The judge’s language, as well as her actions, could very well have reshaped my reality. I could quite possibly come to a new conclusion that stealing is in fact bad and dishonorable. Not only is the world full of different realities, but each of our own realities could change at any time. Stealing may not be a good example, because it is hard to disagree with something that is so indisputable. You can not really argue that stealing is good without looking like an absolute moron. Well, consider this. Take out an old picture of yourself. Preferably ten years ago, or so. Now, I am looking at a picture of myself in the sixth grade. It is my class picture and it sure does yell, “Tacky!” Fashion don’ts everywhere from hair to shoes to accessories. My hair is outrageous. The wave creatively formed with my bangs looks more like a fire hazard. It probably took an entire bottle of hairspray just to make the hair stand up like it is. What was I thinking? Oh, and the shirt? It is awful. It is the most disgusting shade of green and I can’t believe how popular bright colors used to be. Everything from neon pink to neon blue. I look like a really bad mistake. The guys look 10 times as bad. Remember those baggy parachute-type pants that were once very popular? Almost every guy is wearing the “MC Hammer” pants with outrageous colors and styles. All of these styles came about simply because some designer said that parachute pants are cool and the wave hairstyle is “in”. That designer was able to convince an entire population of young adults that these fads are cool. Then came along another designer who insisted that these clothes are out of style. Suddenly, parachute pants disappear off of store racks and hairstyles change in a matter of weeks. Now, bell-bottoms are cool and short hair is the hot new style for girls. Who will come along and tell us that this is no longer hip? Reality may seem too complicated to compare to parachute pants so let us dive deeper. Let’s compare two kids: a boy from Ethiopia and a boy from Beverly Hills. The parents of the California native taught him that happiness is about money and materials. They always said, “Son, if you ever want to be happy, you have to be successful and make a lot of money.” Not surprisingly, the boy believes that the world is all about money. He wants the finest clothes and most extravagant gifts. Through their language, his parents have created a reality for the boy. Every time the young boy sees a person that is poor, he quickly assumes that he or she is also not happy. I happen to know many people who are not blessed financially, but they are some of the happiest people in the world. We are going to Ethiopia now. We understand this country to be poor and disadvantaged. The young boy from Ethiopia, believe it or not, is very happy with his life. He spends his days frolicking with his brothers and sisters. He has no worries and he has everything he needs. His parents always say, “Son, money is the root of all evil and being rich is not important.” Ultimately, the boy believes that rich people are evil, because they have so much money. The Ethiopian boy’s reality is very different than the boy from California. One centers his life around money while the other has no regard for the uses of money. Neither reality is better or right, only different. What parents say to their kids has such a strong influence on a child’s view of the world. Language shapes all aspects of our lives. Why do reporters have the privilege of deciding what events are important in our lives? What does this mean you ask? Well, a reporter selects which stories he would like to broadcast on the air, and those are the stories that we hear about. What a reporter tells us strongly influences our view of reality. When a news broadcaster continually airs stories about shootings, murders, and crimes, then our reality takes on the shape of a rather violent world. In another country, like Japan, violence is not so commonplace. Japanese have a more pacified view of reality, because violence is not so openly spoke about. See how words and language shape reality for each of us? Humans can not help being influenced by what is said to them. We can not forget things that we hear. First impressions are weighted heavily in our world. Why? It is because the language we use influences what other people think about us. If I meet a man and he is poorly spoken, then I will be quick to assume that he is not intelligent. His words shaped a reality in my mind about him. He may in fact have an IQ of 115 and be the inventor of toasters for all I know. This shows that reality may not be what is real. The way we see things, may not be the real story. Overall, people are quick to judge and this creates false pretenses for many of us. We should not accept a reality that has been told to us, rather take what we know and investigate it to create our own reality. The influences of language will still hold true, but an awareness of this can make all the difference. Have you ever thought that someone is mean just because someone says so, even though you have never met this alleged “mean” person? You shaped a reality about a person without even talking to him. Language is strong and unavoidable. Its power is remarkable and confusing. How can words be so overbearing, and seem so simple? Every day we probably shape reality for someone just by the words we say. Reality never seemed so mysterious until now. Each of us just takes in reality for what it is. It is amazing to think that we can actually create and shape our own reality. You won’t make the world triangle or the sky purple, but you can decide if your reality is filled with joy or misery. We should all be nonconformists and make the world the way we want it to be. If your teacher says that college is hard and just the beginning of a very rocky road, turn to her and say, “In my reality, college is fun and just the beginning of a wonderful life filled with happiness! I will not let your words shape my reality!” Will she dare argue with you? Kids are great, aren’t they? They can spend hours playing with a spoon and a bowl. They have a profound and admirable sense of innocence. A child sees things in a completely different way than adults do. Adults see a woman in a flashy dress with extravagant jewelry, and they think to themselves “What a hussy!” A child can see the exact same lady and merely think “Pretty lady.” Are adults just pessimistic, self-absorbed morons with nothing better to do than criticize? I hope not, because that is not what I want to be. I think that the reason is culture and language. A child may live in the same culture as the critical adult, but it is apparent that there is a difference in thought. Perhaps, it is television or personal experience. The big difference is that children speak a different language than adults. The words may sound the same, but the meanings that lie underneath are distinct. This brings me to my conclusion that there are just as many realities as there are languages. Language influences our thoughts and understanding. The realities that we all know are the product of our surroundings and particularly the things that we are told. What is all this talk about reality and language? How can we question and analyze reality? Reality is just there. Yes, it is there, but it exists in so many forms. Are we confused yet? Good, then we are ready! We all view the world in a unique way. There are not any two people who see the world in exactly the same way. A lot of our thoughts and beliefs extend from the teachings of our parents or other key figures. When we accidentally took that first candy bar from the store without paying, who made us take it back and pay for the item we had “stolen”? Our parents probably did. They are the ones who teach us that stealing is bad, and that random acts of kindness like sharing are noble. If my mother had taught me that stealing was acceptable, then it is likely that I would have spent my days stealing. This would probably be the case until the language of another person changed my reality. It could be a courtroom judge telling me how pitiful stealing is and then sentencing me to 150 hours of community service. The judge’s language, as well as her actions, could very well have reshaped my reality. I could quite possibly come to a new conclusion that stealing is in fact bad and dishonorable. Not only is the world full of different realities, but each of our own realities could change at any time. Stealing may not be a good example, because it is hard to disagree with something that is so indisputable. You can not really argue that stealing is good without looking like an absolute moron. Well, consider this. Take out an old picture of yourself. Preferably ten years ago, or so. Now, I am looking at a picture of myself in the sixth grade. It is my class picture and it sure does yell, “Tacky!” Fashion don’ts everywhere from hair to shoes to accessories. My hair is outrageous. The wave creatively formed with my bangs looks more like a fire hazard. It probably took an entire bottle of hairspray just to make the hair stand up like it is. What was I thinking? Oh, and the shirt? It is awful. It is the most disgusting shade of green and I can’t believe how popular bright colors used to be. Everything from neon pink to neon blue. I look like a really bad mistake. The guys look 10 times as bad. Remember those baggy parachute-type pants that were once very popular? Almost every guy is wearing the “MC Hammer” pants with outrageous colors and styles. All of these styles came about simply because some designer said that parachute pants are cool and the wave hairstyle is “in”. That designer was able to convince an entire population of young adults that these fads are cool. Then came along another designer who insisted that these clothes are out of style. Suddenly, parachute pants disappear off of store racks and hairstyles change in a matter of weeks. Now, bell-bottoms are cool and short hair is the hot new style for girls. Who will come along and tell us that this is no longer hip? Reality may seem too complicated to compare to parachute pants so let us dive deeper. Let’s compare two kids: a boy from Ethiopia and a boy from Beverly Hills. The parents of the California native taught him that happiness is about money and materials. They always said, “Son, if you ever want to be happy, you have to be successful and make a lot of money.” Not surprisingly, the boy believes that the world is all about money. He wants the finest clothes and most extravagant gifts. Through their language, his parents have created a reality for the boy. Every time the young boy sees a person that is poor, he quickly assumes that he or she is also not happy. I happen to know many people who are not blessed financially, but they are some of the happiest people in the world. We are going to Ethiopia now. We understand this country to be poor and disadvantaged. The young boy from Ethiopia, believe it or not, is very happy with his life. He spends his days frolicking with his brothers and sisters. He has no worries and he has everything he needs. His parents always say, “Son, money is the root of all evil and being rich is not important.” Ultimately, the boy believes that rich people are evil, because they have so much money. The Ethiopian boy’s reality is very different than the boy from California. One centers his life around money while the other has no regard for the uses of money. Neither reality is better or right, only different. What parents say to their kids has such a strong influence on a child’s view of the world. Language shapes all aspects of our lives. Why do reporters have the privilege of deciding what events are important in our lives? What does this mean you ask? Well, a reporter selects which stories he would like to broadcast on the air, and those are the stories that we hear about. What a reporter tells us strongly influences our view of reality. When a news broadcaster continually airs stories about shootings, murders, and crimes, then our reality takes on the shape of a rather violent world. In another country, like Japan, violence is not so commonplace. Japanese have a more pacified view of reality, because violence is not so openly spoke about. See how words and language shape reality for each of us? Humans can not help being influenced by what is said to them. We can not forget things that we hear. First impressions are weighted heavily in our world. Why? It is because the language we use influences what other people think about us. If I meet a man and he is poorly spoken, then I will be quick to assume that he is not intelligent. His words shaped a reality in my mind about him. He may in fact have an IQ of 115 and be the inventor of toasters for all I know. This shows that reality may not be what is real. The way we see things, may not be the real story. Overall, people are quick to judge and this creates false pretenses for many of us. We should not accept a reality that has been told to us, rather take what we know and investigate it to create our own reality. The influences of language will still hold true, but an awareness of this can make all the difference. Have you ever thought that someone is mean just because someone says so, even though you have never met this alleged “mean” person? You shaped a reality about a person without even talking to him. Language is strong and unavoidable. Its power is remarkable and confusing. How can words be so overbearing, and seem so simple? Every day we probably shape reality for someone just by the words we say. Reality never seemed so mysterious until now. Each of us just takes in reality for what it is. It is amazing to think that we can actually create and shape our own reality. You won’t make the world triangle or the sky purple, but you can decide if your reality is filled with joy or misery. We should all be nonconformists and make the world the way we want it to be. If your teacher says that college is hard and just the beginning of a very rocky road, turn to her and say, “In my reality, college is fun and just the beginning of a wonderful life filled with happiness! I will not let your words shape my reality!” Will she dare argue with you? Bibliography:

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