‘People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them up’–George Bernard Shaw

We all wanna get inside teens heads. Not to control them. But because they're our future generation AND AS MUCH OUR TEACHERS AS THEY ARE OUR STUDENTS! I think it's good for US ADULTS to listen. In TEEN SPEAK, each month I'll be asking different questions and I WANT YOU TO SEND ME YOUR VIDEO ANSWERS!

Izaac is first up because 1) He's my son and 2)I've taught him that circumstances are something we can change any time we want, if we get in and do something at the first signs.

I asked IZAAC for his answer to THE BIG QUESTIONS: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING TEENS TODAY?

He chose something we’re not talking about enough because things like sex, drugs & rock ‘n’ roll, social media, lack of self-esteem/confidence, ego, skewed values, booze, bullying, depression, abuse, POVERTY and a sleuth of other challenges are all jostling for the limelight. Yet ironically, if we all shed more light on this topic, it'd aid in helping unravel the darkness of many of those other challenges.

So what relevance and connection has GEORGE BERNARD SHAW and IZAAC BETTS got, besides both seeing the turn of a century? They both acknowledge the trouble with BLAME.

NOTE: SHOT OFF-THE-CUFF, FROM THE HEART AND ALL OPINIONS ARE HIS OWN!

THE MORAL OF THE STORY?

DON’T LET YOUR HISTORY OR THE PAST DEFINE YOU. It’s done. Over. Can’t change, avoid or defy it. So take what you can and LEARN from it. Because, if nothing else, LEARNING gives you more choices. And more choice means a better future. Don't we all want a better future not only for us in the world around us, but our future generations in the world?

YOU CAN BLAME ALL YOU LIKE. KNOCK YOURSELF OUT. BUT YOU WON’T MOVE LET ALONE BE HAPPY UNTIL YOU STOP BLAMING. Stop the madness today. Take responsibility. Own up to your own stuff. And when others do stuff to you? Do what you can to read the warning signs early. If it’s tough to get out of your situation (trust me. I know how hard it is!), then these days, there’s so much awesome support out there for all people. Unlike the old school, we now have access to technology. Use it to help yourself, and help others to help themselves.

‘OLD’ PEOPLE, LIVING OR DEAD, CAN TEACH US SOME STUFF. Look at Bernard Shaw. Go talk to your grandparents, great grandparents or an old person today. Sit, engage, Shhhh! and listen. They have some big tales, fascinating anecdotes and a take on life and the world we can’t begin to imagine. Because they didn’t learn just by reading about or watching it. They learned by living and doing it.

TAKE FROM IT YOU WANT

This choice of video is controversial. But one of the things IZAAC mentions about blame is alcohol. And alcohol can create a tonne of other problems, whether we admit it, own up to it or not. So here're the LYRICS to the JAMIE FOXX ft T-PAIN for BLAME IT video.

Thanks for joining me! If you pick up any info here which could be useful to someone, share it.

Until next time,