5/24/09

Personal approach to bad and good habits / Laura Bouza

These days most teenagers are spoiled and have some unhealthy and bad habits. This may be because of social influence, I mean, everything that people talk about as it was seen on TV, heard from other people, read in newspapers and all the media. They can also get these bad habits from their friends and family; they see people around them doing it, so they should do the same, shouldn’t they?

In my opinion, this rule and thought isn’t a good example to follow. We’re all aware that each day more and more children want to buy the newest game console, computer or any electronic device. At the same time, sports and cultural activities are more and more abandoned. Most teenagers are reducing their hobbies only to surfing the internet and playing computer or video games. To me, it seems a pity, because they are losing the time they could spend with family or friends, or even going to different places such as the cinema, parks, sports centres… There are a lot of enjoyable activities that are being forgotten, for instance, writing or reading, which for me, is the most enriching and fun activity in every way.

Of course, all these novelties I have just named have a positive side too; or better said, almost all of them are good but, like everything, used in a logical way, without abusing of them. As the saying goes, “Everything in moderation”. If we only do these activities, which don’t include any physical exercise, relationships with other people or a learning experience, what will happen with the rest of our skills? What is going to keep them working correctly and try to improve them? My advice is that everyone should make an effort not only to centre their attention on one of them and try to mix and conserve both.

Maybe things should be different, but centuries are passing and society is changing constantly. However, although we can’t make society change totally, we are able to modify the situation a little if each one contributes a bit.

I’m sure no one would like a world where the most important things are machines and electronic advances and where people could be considered “robots” without any feelings, emotions or other ambitions in life. This is not the world a child, who has the most innocent imagination, would dream of. Everyone has to take part in this work if we want to see the dream of our childhood come true.

That is why each person has to start trying to change their own habits. Despite the fact that the older people are, the more difficult to adapt habits, it is never too late to take up doing new activities. For example, activities that you hadn’t time to do before or you simply didn’t think of, such as playing any sport or instrument, singing, going to the beach, reading, sleeping… Maybe they are more relaxing and you enjoy them much more than using machines.

If we start correcting the problem, then we will be able to tell other people what he best thing for them is and maybe someone will copy these good and healthy habits. By doing this, we will at least be helping in a small way, which is better than nothing.
In conclusion, we should always do our best to improve and change things we don’t do well: activities which teenagers do in their free time are one of them and we can prove we are able to modify them!
by Laura Bouza Romero, 1ºA Bachillerato

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