Where Are You Going?

There is an important question that parents repeatedly ask young people: “Where are you going?” And even though a youngster may become impatient, it is important that parents ask it, and it is important that they receive a straight and open answer. An evasive answer is often an introduction to trouble. Sometimes people have definite destinations in mind, which they are readily willing to discuss. Sometimes people, young and old, simply don’t want to account for their intended course. And sometimes they don’t really know where they are going; they are just drifting. “Where are you going?” is an important question every time we venture forth from the family fireside, every time we undertake any activity, every time we travel with any crowd or company. We are all going somewhere all the time. Even when we are physically inactive we are going in our thoughts. We are planning what we want to do or hope to do. “Where are you going” is a question that young people should answer as they leave school and look toward permanent employment. Indeed, one of the most important days in the life of anyone is the day he decides on some definite and desirable destination and begins moving toward it. And if more people had asked more youngsters where they were going more often, there would be fewer disappointments today. And if more people had faced the facts more squarely about where their own activities were taking them, there would be fewer misfortunes. Either we are going ahead or we are going behind. Either we are wasting time or we are putting it to good purpose. Either we are going in good company or we are going in bad company. And people who go to the wrong places with the wrong people, issue an open invitation to trouble. We all ought to ask ourselves where we are going every day, because to be going where we ought to be going is one of the greatest safeguards in life. It isn’t good for anyone to drift without having to account for his course and conduct. One of the simplest formulas for keeping out of trouble and for making the most of life is to have a definite and desirable destination, and to be going there in the right kind of company.