43. First, you work and then you play.

Priorities have always played a prominent role in my life. I have usually been able to arrange tasks or responsibilities in a successful order. Since my youth, I think our society has lost a lot of that ability and has tended to place immediate gratification before responsible action. How else do you explain the fact that Canadians all average over $21,000 personal debt? They have placed their material wants at the top of their to-do lists.

I grew up in a fairly poor household. On some occasions, I would check out the loose-change dish that sat on our kitchen counter hoping for a bonanza. When I would find seven cents or a dime I was elated as it meant that I was allowed to race to the store and purchase a popsicle or dixie-cup. Life was good! In contrast, I am often amazed to witness a young person today using a credit card to purchase a bottle of pop or a chocolate bar. That is my definition of insanity. Buying a small treat with a credit card that charges 20+% interest is not a very intelligent move.

Today's society is characterized by millions of people who live beyond their means. No one saves money ahead of time anymore to purchase a new car in about five years. Are you kidding me? People with menial or part-time jobs will go into debts over $50,000 to purchase a new car or truck because they feel like it. There is no notion that if they lose their job, they would be in trouble making truck payments. They don't seem to care. The same applies to young couples who purchase expensive homes with $3000 a month mortgage payments and think nothing of it. 

As a principal, at the start of each school year, I would always hold an assembly of all of the students and let them know that in my school we work hard first and then we play. If students accept their responsibilities for hard work and appropriate behaviour, they would be rewarded. At each month's end they would enjoy a games afternoon, or a special movie, or a school dance or a special activity. I tried to install the maxim that you work first and then you play, not the other way around. It should apply to us all! Unfortunately, it doesn’t!