"Differential Diagnosis"

A Sunday night stroll a few weeks ago helped solidify my thoughts on people in the world, and how I interact with them.? “All men are created equal,” is perhaps one of the most recognized phrases in American History, and while I am a firm believer of all people starting off as equals at birth, its obvious that they do not remain as such.

I don’t consider myself an elitist, but my life-long observations have lead me to the conclusion that some people are just more suited to succeed in life than others.? Some people are more deserving of opportunities and knowledge than others.? Some people are meant for leadership, while others are destined to eternally follow.

So what makes a person better at life than others? Choices.? People have the capacity to make their own choices in life.? Choices that can/will ultimately set forth events that will define who they are and where they belong in this word.? A person has the right to choose whether or not they will work hard in school, they choose to take risks, they choose to commit a crime or live on welfare.? Poor choices usually lead to a poor situation, and a lower status in this world.

Money is another significant factor in this day and age, being born into an upper class family has significant advantages for success in the world.? Given enough money, any person of any background or genetic structure can be successful to a point.? Wealth is directly related to the type of environment someone lives in, which has direct influence on choices people make. A poor environment might encourage someone to work even harder to leave, while a great environment might encourage a person to take it easy and enjoy the free ride.

As genetics becomes even more popular and better understood, we’ve discovered that some people are in fact born with a predisposition for certain illnesses and perhaps even behaviors.? Scientists claim that they’ve found genes responsible for alcoholism and gambling addictions, whether or not that’s 100% correct is another story.? ? However, physical attributes/advantages have been proven to be genetic.? Lean muscular builds vs obese builds are sometimes partially due to genetics, but mostly due to life-style choices.

While genetics may give you a slight handicap in certain categories and a boost in others, your faults can’t always be blamed on genetics.? A partially deaf person I greatly admire was able to attend college and became a teacher, and it wasn’t easy by any means!? A girl born with only one functioning kidney can grow up and participate in Taekwondo at an Olympic level!

So if your background, your family’s wealth, and even your genes are all working against you from day 1, how can someone with many negative factors be expected to succeed in life?? I’ve discovered that sheer willpower and the urge to never settle is a vital key in a successful life.? Forget genetics, forget wealth, if you have the constitution to always strive for something better, then you are truly deserving of better things.? This is mankind’s greatest asset, and those that don’t posses it are ultimately doomed to failure, stagnation, and servitude. Unless of course you happen to be filthy rich…