Atomic Essay 4: Is Modernity Breeding a Weak Generation?
Why is our generation SOOO upset over trivial things in life?
The Masai people in Africa have this ancient tradition that’s pretty intense. So, here’s how it goes:
First, if a boy wants to become a man, he has to give away everything he owns. No exceptions!
Then, they deck him out in this fancy ceremonial cloak and some wild face paint, and off he goes into the wild. He can’t come back until he’s taken down a lion.
Once he’s back with his lion trophy, they bring him into this ritual tent, and right in front of all the other men in the village, he gets circumcised. No painkillers allowed, and if he so much as flinches during the procedure, it’s a fail.
After that, he’s got to wear all black for a few months while his body heals up from the whole ordeal. But once he’s through all that, he’s officially a warrior and considered a grown-up.
This whole thing, from start to finish, can take up to a year. It takes some serious physical and mental strength, but in the end, that boy knows he’s become a man. It’s all about pushing the limits of what his mind and body can handle.
This whole ordeal teaches you a great great great deal. I think more than anything, it tells you that you are capable of doing a LOT.
Most tribes, like the Masai, had their own rituals of a similar nature. Of course, if this were to be introduced by any leader now — the whole country would be “cancelled”.
We no longer live in a world that requires to prove you’re capable of adulthood.
As a result? Things like ghosting makes us cry for days.
Why are we not capable of handling more?
This whole no test transitioning into adulthood has made us believe that we cannot a lot of things. Or atleast we take a lot more time to process and change this belief.
We might not have hard struggles, but we can proactively seek good challenges and push ourselves to get physically and mentally stronger. The difference I see is that instead of being pushes into it, it becomes an active choice.
Do we want to be comfortable and mediocre? Or do we want to push our ceilings?
Modernity doesn’t necessarily make us weak, but it is giving us the option to be weak.
Time to see what ceilings I can elevate.
About my atomic essays: Let’s be informed, not influenced
As an adult, we stop asking questions. Or at least at the same frequency as we did as kids. I want to change that.
I want to ask more questions, and ask the right questions. These questions are not necessarily to find A RIGHT answer. They’re all about making me think more, reflect on things, and maybe even challenge some of the stuff I thought I knew.
I take it as a little adventure for my brain. Each question is like a puzzle piece, and when I put them together, they create a bigger picture of understanding. It’s a small step to become a bit better at life.
My atomic essays are a short explanation of what I learnt. Hopefully it also helps someone with something.
