"年轻时不给人们机会学会依靠自己是一个错误。"

Let’s talk about the idea of letting young people learn to rely on themselves. It's crucial they get the opportunity early on to figure things out independently. Why? Because it builds resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence. Think about it: if someone always does everything for you, you never learn how to do it yourself. You become reliant on others, which can be a handicap later in life.

This concept has been around for a long time. In history, you can see it in various forms. For instance, in many traditional societies, there were rites of passage for young people. They'd be sent out into the wilderness to survive for a time. The idea was to test their limits and help them discover their inner strength. Nowadays, we don’t usually send kids into the wild, but we can still give them responsibilities and challenges that teach them self-reliance.

Let’s look at a practical example. Think of a teenager learning to drive. If a parent always drives them everywhere they need to go, the teenager never learns how to navigate, handle unexpected situations on the road, or deal with the responsibility of operating a vehicle. But if they’re given the chance to learn and gradually take on that responsibility—maybe starting with driving lessons, then some supervised driving, and eventually having their own car—they develop skills that are crucial for independence. They learn to rely on themselves to get from point A to point B safely.

So how can you apply this wisdom in your life? Start small. Give the young people in your life opportunities to handle things on their own. That could be as simple as letting them manage their own pocket money. They’ll make mistakes—maybe blow through their allowance too quickly—but they’ll learn. Another approach is to involve them in decision-making. For example, if you’re planning a family trip, let them research and decide on some activities. It’s all about building those muscles of independence bit by bit.

Now, let me tell you a story. There’s this girl named Emma. She was always sheltered by her parents, who did everything for her. When she went off to college, she struggled. She didn’t know how to do laundry, couldn’t cook a basic meal, and had a hard time managing her time. On the flip side, her friend Jake was given a lot of responsibilities growing up. He had chores, managed a small allowance, and made his own school lunch. When he went to college, he was ready. Sure, he had to figure out some things—like how to live with a messy roommate—but he had the foundation of self-reliance. Emma eventually caught up, but it was a tough road.

The moral? It's about balance. We’re not talking about throwing kids to the wolves. But little by little, giving them the chance to handle things on their own prepares them for the real world. It might be hard to watch them struggle sometimes, but think of it as giving them the tools they need to thrive later on. So next time you’re tempted to step in and fix everything, take a step back. Let them figure it out. They’ll thank you one day.