English Grammar Tutorials

HOW TRUSTWORTHY ARE YOU?

 A trustworthy person is someone who can be depended upon; one in whose words you can rely on. A trustworthy person does not back down on his promises even if such would inconvenience him or lead to his disadvantage. 

Trustworthiness is an admirable virtue which unfortunately has now become rare in our society especially when money is involved. It's important however, for a youth to cultivate this golden quality now more than ever before. This is because, since the number of those possessing this quality is dwindling by the day, any who display even an iota of that virtue are easily spotted and trumpeted.

Apart from the above, a trustworthy person is an asset wherever he is. People tend to befriend and feel comfortable with a trustworthy individual, rest assured that their assets and confidential matters are safe with him. Such a person is straightforward and rarely instigates conflicts with those with whom he engages in business dealings.

Indeed, trustworthiness is a very important virtue that everyone and especially youth need to cultivate for  for a more meaningful life and a good relationship with others.

ARE YOU A WORKAHOLIC OR HARDWORKER?

We often hear people refer to someone who is always engaged in one form of work or the other as a workerholic. The term workerholism is used interchangeably with hardworking as a way of commendation for hard work. 

However, the two terms differ both in meaning and in reference. While hardworking is used on a positive note to refer to one who is not lazy, workerholism is used with a negative undertone to refer to one who is always working, without moment of rest or relaxation.

Hard work brings about a sense of fulfillment whereas workerholism saps energy and often rubs one of quality times that should be spent on activities that are of  utmost importance such as time spent with family, friends, spiritual activities  as well as time for reflection and improving one's life.

A workerholic has an unbalanced view of work, spending all his time on work, neglecting his loved ones, and this often leads to marital problems and poor parental techniques. On the other hand, a hard worker understands the importance of working hard to provide for his loved ones while at the same time, balancing his or her time such that he can attend to other important  responsibilities be it parental, marital or spiritual matters. He does not allow any to suffer at the alter of work.

Having understood the meaning of the two terms, ask yourself: 'Am I a workerholic or a hard worker?'🤓

BE AN INDUSTRIOUS YOUTH NOT A LAZY ONE

 It's often said that poverty stems from laziness and breeds every sort of vile things. On the other hand, industrous hand feeds its owner and extends generousity to others. 

Industrousneness is the act of being ready to do whatever genuine work there is to survive without necessarily being choosy. Are you a student in the secondary or tertiary institution? Show that you are industrous by taking your studies very seriously. Afterall, that's your own business at the moment. Or have you graduated from secondary school and your parents do not have the means to further your education in the meantime? Why not take advantage of the numerous opportunities to learn a trade?  Let people  around you know that you're open for work? This is not the time to sleep all day or burn your data with nothing to show for it. There are a thousand and one job opportunities online. Just try to discover your niche and  delve into it so you can assist yourself financially and possibly save for your future admission into tertiary institution. Do NOT while away your time waiting for your parents alone to source money, with the childish thought that "Afterall you did not beg them to give birth to you". Help them to make things easier both for you and for them if you are able.

Are you a university graduate without a job or desire job? It's time to engage in any job opportunity so long as it's legit and genuine while waiting for your dream job. Do not wait until that 'dream' job comes. Do something to survive even of that something does not before your status. In this instance, humility is the quality you need. Do not take yourself too highly that you end up losing your opportunity. Instances abound wherein people survive these days not necessarily by what they actually studied in school, but from what trade or skill they later embrace.

Therefore, learn to adapt and make use of the present opportunity to survive... that's it- survival. It's said that 'when the desirable isn't available, the available becomes desirable. 

By all means be INDUSTRIOUS! Don't be LAZY!!🙅

BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

 Are you an ambitious youth? If you are, there is absolutely nothing wrong with such aspiration for something big or bigger, or trying to better one's living condition. True, any focussed youths no doubt have good prospects for the future and work hard to achieve their dreams.  In fact, ambition is said to be a driving force for hard work.

However, trying to improve one's present state of life while at the same time trying to live within one's means is quite different from being overly ambitious and discontent. While the former is a healthy quest for improved quality of life, the latter is however, damaging to health and can lead to frustration, covetousness, greed, jealousy and envy - poisonous traits that are detrimental and energy-sapping. 

As a youth, while still living with and depending on your parents for support, it's therefore imperative that you learn to be content with what they honestly can provide for you at the moment. Try not to be envious or covetous. 

A content person is always appreciative of whatever is given to or done for him however little that might be.  In contrast, a discontent person is always unhappy because he is never satisfied with what he has, always wanting more, and when that 'more' isn't forthcoming, he ends up being unhappy and envious of others.

Moreover, a discontent person easily falls into wrong hands especially when he is offered those things that he covets, regardless of where they stem from. 

By all means therefore, be content with what you've got at the moment, while honestly trying to improve the quality of your life. 💥💯

LEARN THE ART OF CONSTRUCTIVE ARGUMENT

Sincere and heartfelt communication is unaguably an essential ingredient in the success of any relationship be it filial, romantic or platonic. As a young person, you no doubt belong to a family, have friends and will one day have your own family. Therefore, it's important to learn the art of communication. This contributes to a lasting relationship.

Because of lack of communication skills, some if not most people mistake every disagreement, misunderstanding or even argument as quarrel. That is not often the case because it's said that ' in any human relationship, there's bound to be disagreement. And any such relationship without disagreement is sometimes not considered as real'. What matters however, is how such disagreements are handled such that they do not escalate into quarrels.

When disagreement arises, different people react and handle it differently; some choosing to talk it over, others applying the 'silent' method (very detrimental to a relationship), whereas others preferring not to talk about the matter at all because they lack the art of constructive argument, believing that every argument leads to fight.

Since we can't do without socializing  with others, it's therefore important that we understand that social interaction does not come without misunderstanding. Hence, to have good relationship with others, there's need to learn to settle disagreement amicably, without having to resort into quarrelling.

Learning to accept criticism is the key.  Understand that your opinion is not always the best, that there are people whose reasonings might be better than yours whether they are literate or illiterate; some who do not and cannot swallow just anything presented to them; they have to ask questions on the matter, juxtapose your new opinion with what they already know before accepting it. This can only be realized through constructive argument and reasoning.

 Learning to establish your reasons for your proposition such that it's clearly understandable to others without turning it into an oral battle field is the beginning of your success. Also, put yourself in the shoes of others. You don't just believe every word you hear, do you? If not, then you cannot expect others to just gullibly accept or agree with whatever proposition you bring to the table without reasoning on it before making their informed decision.

Indeed, learning to explain your point on a matter to others without resorting to fight of words is an essential quality in the communication art.

WHAT KIND OF GOSSIP ARE YOU, POSITIVE GOSSIP OR NEGATIVE GOSSIP?

 To gossip means to talk about others either in a negative or positive way.  No doubt, every one of us engages in one form of gossip or another at any point in time. That is not bad. Afterall, as social beings, it's natural for us to show how much we care about our fellow humans by saying or doing something for them.

Gossip is of two types: harmless or positive and harmful or negative gossip respectively. Positive or harmless gossip is when we talk positively about others thereby making it possible for them to see themselves in a positive light. Harmless gossip uplifts and tends to brings out the good in others, such that, when those about whom we gossip get to hear of, they feel happy within them. 

Harmful gossip on the other hand is saying something negative about someone. Unfortunately, harmful gossip is so common that it has even subsumed the positive gossip so much that today, anything said  about others is regarded as a (negative) gossip regardless of whether such is even positive. In fact, talking about others is  generally viewed as harmful gossip.  True, it's in every human to always want to appear faultless and justified in every action he takes. And he feels the only way to achieve that is by  pulling  others down and painting them black, thereby damaging their reputation. Often, harmful gossip is  done in the absence of the gossiped. This accounts to why it most often tilts towards negativity.

To avoid harmful gossip, as a youth endeavor to keep yourself busy with positive engagements. Avoid loitering around with people who make other people's matters their business. And if gossips begin to shift towards negative overture, if possible, change the topic with positive one or have the willpower to excuse yourself. Also always see the good in others and praise their positive qualities.

Bottom line: while gossip is not bad in itself, it's important you ask yourself: 'do I uplift or damage reputation with my gossip'?

Be a harmless gossip. Avoid harmful gossip 👍🙏