How to be responsible and resilient like cave men and David Beckham

Hey, GenZ's!

It's been a long time since I wrote a letter to you. So what's the reasons for my absence? Well, life happened:

I was sent out of my father's house at a point in time this year, took an uncalculated risk that resulted in owing huge some of money (at least for my age ??)...

And resigned from my place of work to reinvent myself and personality.

Different decision needed to be made and I had to keep linkedin aside for a while.

But I'm back now!

Somebody shout "Gloryyy"??

Make That Move!

I could see the horrible look in her face. The seemingly joyful look turned gloomy. "Ehn you did what? My mum asked— I just told her I resigned from my place of work.

My dad's response?

I prefer not to speak ??

They weren't happy, especially because I didn't tell them before I made the decision. But I knew if I told tell them, they wouldn't have agreed.

Maybe you're like me. You know you need to make a move. Maybe not to resign. Maybe to leave a relationship, or to leave someone's house.

Or to start something new and you're scared of the unknown, of taking strides in that uncharted territory. let me give a historical archive of why you need to make a move— NOW!

2.6 Million Years Ago...

to about 12,000 years ago, the old stone age (or paleolithic era) began. This was the time when humans used stone tools, before the invention of farming and writing.

The Paleolithic era covers most of the time that humans lived in caves and were hunters and gatherers. Imagine living in that era. The hardship and the challenges.

They had to survive in tough environments with limited resources. They had to hunt, gather, and scavenge for food, make fire, and protect themselves from predators and the elements. They also had to adapt to changing climates and landscapes.

Decisions needed to be made in order for them to forge ahead in their quest to survive and thrive in this world of mortal beings.

The Paleolithic humans made moves by working together and talking to each other in small groups. (Now tell me why you're not active on Linkedin or any social media? Don't be like the old me!)

They also showed responsibility by using their creativity and culture through cave paintings and other forms of art. They used natural stuff like charcoal and blood to make pictures of animals, humans, and weird symbols on cave walls. They also made ornaments, sculptures, musical instruments, and tools from bone, stone, shell, and wood— these guys were creative!??

It Wasn't All Rosy

They faced many dangers and challenges, such as hunger, disease, injury, cold, heat, drought, flood and war. But they did not give up! So why should you?

They learned from their mistakes and improved their skills— They had no choice but to adapt or die! But they did more than just survive, they thrived. They left behind a legacy of art and culture that still thrills us today.

While researching for this newsletter., I got a little more curious and struck a conversation with BING AI— my dear AI assistant who' has being my buddy during the test, trials and what my fellow Nigerians will call "shege" of this year:

BING AI: The Paleolithic era is divided into three parts: Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic, each with different characteristics and technologies.?The Paleolithic era ended with the last Ice Age, when the climate became warmer and more stable, and humans began to develop new ways of living

My curious self: how did this new way of living reduce the level of responsibility of humans today?

My smart assistant: That’s a very subjective question, and different people may have different opinions on it. I don’t think there is a definitive answer, but I can try to give you some possible perspectives.

One perspective is that the new way of living increased the level of responsibility of humans today, because they have to deal with more complex and diverse challenges, such as managing resources, governing societies, creating laws, advancing science, protecting the environment, and respecting human rights. They also have to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions, both positive and negative, on themselves and others.

Another perspective is that the new way of living decreased the level of responsibility of humans today, because they have become more dependent on technology, institutions, and other people for their survival and well-being. They also have lost some of the skills, knowledge, and values that their Paleolithic ancestors had, such as self-reliance, adaptability, creativity, and respect for nature. They may also have become more selfish, greedy, and wasteful.

A third perspective is that the new way of living did not change the level of responsibility of humans today, but only changed its form and context. Humans still have to face the basic challenges of finding food, shelter, safety, and meaning in their lives, but they do so in different ways and with different tools. They also still have to cooperate and communicate with each other, but they do so in larger and more diverse groups. They also still have to express their creativity and culture, but they do so in more varied and sophisticated forms.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with any of these perspectives? Why or why not?

...

My assistant seems to be quite egoistic lately— still has the guts to ask me what do I think. So disrespectful ??

So out of these perspectives above, which side are you on? Don't tell me. But avoid the second one at all cost!

And I think that's what David Beckham did too.

David Beckham, a famous former footballer who played for top clubs in the world like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain. He also represented England in 115 international matches, scoring 17 goals. He is known for his skillful passing, crossing, and free-kick taking, as well as for his fashion sense and celebrity status.

This man dedicated himself to his career!

He started playing football from a very early age and dreamed of becoming a professional player. He played for a local club called Ridgeway Rovers and attended trials for several teams, including Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City.

He also won a national skills competition at age 11 that caught the attention of Manchester United scouts. He joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1991, when he was 16 years old. He made his first-team debut in 1992, but he had to wait until 1995 to become a regular starter. He spent a short loan spell at Preston North End in 1995, where he scored two goals in five games.

He then returned to Manchester United and helped them win the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1995–96 season. He was voted Young Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

David Beckham showed resilience by overcoming the backlash he faced following his 1998 World Cup sending off against Argentina for kicking Diego Simeone.

(For my football lovers: With the way simeone coached (or is coaching) Athletico Madrid, don't you think Beckham shouldn't be alive today? Just asking??)

England lost the match on penalties and were eliminated from the tournament. Beckham was blamed for the defeat and received death threats, insults, and abuse. Just imagine how quick the ones who claim to love you can turn against you.

He said that he felt “alone and scared” during that period, and that he had to deal with a lot of anger and frustration. He said he was grateful that social media did not exist at that time, because it would have made things worse. He also said that he did not talk to anyone about his feelings, because he did not think it was acceptable or normal for a footballer to do so. He said that he wished he had opened up more, because it would have helped him cope better (You, yes you! Take note of that ??)

But guess what?

Beckham bounced back from the backlash!

He used used the criticism as motivation to work harder and improve his game. He also said that he received support from his family,

friends, teammates, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson (always have a community of people you can return to!)

Beckham redeemed himself in the eyes of many fans by scoring a crucial free-kick against Greece in October 2001 that secured England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup (a movie titled "Bend it like Beckham" was even screened!)

He also captained England in that tournament and scored a penalty against Argentina in the group stage, which was seen as a revenge for the 1998 defeat. (That's the kind of goal that would get the whole stadium on fire! ??)

At the end of the day, he became one of England’s most respected and admired players.

Fam, there's no situation to big for you to handle! You have that Grace to be responsible and resilient — the ancient beings have passed that mantle to you!

You just need to begin to wield it in the right direction so you can steer yourself in a path that lead to fulfilment.

What Next?

Good question. Because you've gotta start from somewhere. My advice? Take time off social media. If you're already off, use your time wisely— don't waste it just binge watching movies.

Create time to think about your life.

A lot of people don't like this, but!

It's very important.

I was listening to Leslie Flowers today and she said in life, you create things twice— once in your mind, and the second in the physical.

She gave a statistics that says only 2% of the people in the world think. 3% think they are thinking.

And the other 95%?

They don't even know what's happening!

She was probably joking ??

But let's face it: if you don't think about how to better your life for good, who will? (Makes me remember this popular dettol advert ??)

Who can remember?

PS. Please share with your friends on WhatsApp or here on linkedin so they can learn too.

Also, from next month, I'd move this newsletter to substack so people from other platforms can read so please get ready to spread the word ??

To Better Days ??