HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
 By Jack Lepiarz Dec. 30, 2005 There is an age-old saying that goes says "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Essentially, it implies that one should hold on to what they already possess, lest they lose it. In trying to obtain one (if not both) of the birds in the bush, they give up the bird they had in their hand. If they are unable to catch either bird, they are left with nothing. Which got me thinking: which is better? To be satisfied with what you have? Or is it better to strive for newer and better things? My natural inkling, and I believe that many people would agree, is to go with the first option. Being satisfied with what fate hands you is certainly a virtue. I rarely follow my own advice on that matter, but that's for later. The ability to be happy with your life, or your bird, so to say, is an excellent virtue. Playing it safe can also be something that will help you stay safe while others lose their savings. All the people who hadn't invested in the stock market after the 20's certainly got a laugh at all the people who did. They kept their bird, and saved money in the process while those who had invested their money in the stock market saw it dwindle away in the Great Depression. But, then again, where would the human race be if we always settled for what we had? Society would never move forward. We would still be in the stone age if that were the case. Without ambition, without a desire to improve, we would have never invented the wheel, cars, or any of the thousands of modern-day appliances that make life easier (so they say). Another thought is that what if the bird (or birds) in the bush is better than the one you're holding in your hand? Do you accept what you've already secured? Or do you take that risk for something better? What if the so-called "bird in the bush" is something you've hoped to obtain (or attain) for your entire life? What if you can't be happy without it? Or, to further complicate things, what if you are happy with what you have, but wish that you could find better? It is this thinking that separates those that are ambitious from those that aren't. There are some men and women that will do anything to get that bird that makes them happy. There are others that are more willing to accept what life throws their way, whether it be table scraps or a 20-ounce steak. Maybe it's because I'm young, energetic, and full of angst and tension that I would want to go for the second option. Maybe it's because I haven't screwed up enough to realize that I shouldn't gamble so recklessly. Maybe it's because I'm a moron. I don't know. What I do know is that given the option, I would always try to go for those other birds. If it came to a choice between choosing the bird in my hand and the two birds in that bush, even if it was a thorny bush just waiting slice me to shreds, I would jump right into that bush. ------------ About the author: Jack Lepiarz is a senior at Madison High School. Born in Waco, Texas, he lived with the Big Apple Circus for much of his early childhood, eventually moving to Madison, New Jersey, where he now resides. Although he is often described as stubborn and egotistical, he tries to keep an open-mind towards new ideas and treat people the way he would like to be treated. Email: Jackwuzhere42@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
