Lost Generation?

I came across this brilliant poem a little while ago. It was written by Jonathan Reed for a video competition where entrants had to describe their vision for their future. At first reading it is rather depressing:

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation

and I refuse to believe that

I can change the world

I realize this may be a shock but

“Happiness comes from within.”

is a lie, and

“Money will make me happy.”

So in 30 years I will tell my children

they are not the most important thing in my life

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

work

is more important than

family

I tell you this

Once upon a time

Families stayed together

but this will not be true in my era

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making

In the future

Environmental destruction will be the norm

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

Now read it from the bottom up...and, voila!...a completely different perspective. Sometimes we just need to step out of the box and look at the situation from another angle. Tomorrow I am going to be running a workshop for a community youth project and I am going to read it to them. More of that later...