by Gabriel
Let me start off by saying that everyone (hopefully) wishes they could have handled something differently — whether it’s not getting into that one argument with a friend that escalated the situation, stealing and running away, getting in trouble with the police. Whatever your situation is or was, just know there are other ways you could have handled it. Once you figure out that way, life will be a lot easier.
Why give someone a second chance though, or many chances? It is like getting fired from a job, because when you apply for another job and you have to write that you got fired on the application, that’s bad. If you have a history of losing jobs, it’s likely no job will accept you.
It’s the same for group home. I feel like everyone should get another chance. I’ve had many chances in life. I think everyone has had a second chance whether they want to hear it or not. Giving someone a second chance is getting them closer to succeeding. People who succeed are the ones who own businesses. Look at Jeff Bezos, a rich person right there. If I were a betting man, I’d bet he’s had quite a bit of ups and downs, and second chances.
Let me talk about forgiveness. Sure you can ask the Lord for forgiveness, but what about the person you did the wrong to. A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. In other words, if you actually say what you want to say to someone who cares — if they don’t forgive you, that’s their problem. At least you tried.
I’ve given many people second chances. But every time they stab me in the back (not literally). It always backfires. An example is me and my friend were walking from the store and the cops came. My friend ran away and left me. I was arrested and thrown in juvenile hall. He did that before. Surely, you’ve had something backfire on you before, right?
Rehabilitation. Let’s talk about that. AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), yoga, church, therapy, processing your problems with your peers. It’s very different from punitive punishment. If we lived in a perfect world (News Flash! We don’t!), no one would be in jail technically, right? No one would need rehabilitation. But we aren’t perfect so people need second chances. You know it’s not a perfect world because there are laws. We all do things that are good or bad. But does doing something wrong make you a bad person? I think not. I think about why you should try to be a good person. Maybe because you don’t want to think of yourself as a bad guy or you genuinely want to help others. Whatever it is you’re dealing with just know that hopefully, life will get better. Just make it the best you can. After all, you only live once.
There’s good news though. Nobody is perfect (except God). Everybody is imperfectly perfect in their own way. If you think you’re perfect at anything, re-think that. No one in this world is perfect. For example, I may not win this writing competition, but at least I got my word out.