What in the world today is important to know?

Answer 1

These are things that many people would think are important to know for 2011 and the future:

• a loving home and family -- even if a child can't find this from his or her parents, there are other adult role models
• to love a Higher Power -- by whatever name you call God or Supreme Being -- without a Higher Power, life can feel pretty meaningless
• that all people deserve respect and compassion -- regardless of race, color, creed, country of origin, ethnicity, lifestyle choices, etc.
• that everything and everything has "boundaries", invisible fences that define "this is mine" and "that is yours"
• never to violate a person's boundaries or society's boundaries described in laws
• know basic manners -- picking your nose in public is considered rude in any country
• say please and thank you -- it reminds each of us how much we depend on each other
• honesty never lies -- at least about important things ("little white lies" said in order to not hurt someone are exceptions)
• doing good means giving
• it's good to have morals and values -- to know right from wrong
• good manners - these still will make friends and open doors more than bad manners
• how to read and speak English, since English is the most spoken language in the world
• how to spell -- proper spelling of words shows that the person takes pride in details and doing things right
• how to do at least basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide) -- all persons use math every day throughout their lives
• it is essential to aspire to BE something, to BE someone -- if everyone just sat down after high school and never aspired to be someone great in their own lives, well the world would be full of uninteresting people doing nothing and going nowhere
• the value of higher education -- without schooling beyond HS, young adults won't get far
• live within your means -- especially if you didn't aspire, have no job, and therefore have no money
• the names of your country's current leaders and governing bodies -- you never know, you might end up wanting to complain to them or to congratulate them
• the names of the continents and oceans, and their locations -- you really need to know this, so you don't attempt to walk on water
• the name of the country or state bordering where you live -- useful when you want to make a trip and need to know where borders begin and end
• current events -- knowing what's gone on in the world will help you understand the world better...plus you won't look like a dunce when Jay Leno asks you a current events question
• history and literature -- if we don't know history, we're doomed to make the same mistakes...luckily, literature is a written form to document history
• that technology is available -- but, to be wise enough to know that technology will never hold your hand, kiss you on the cheek, care that you are sick or hurting, or worry if you aren't home on time
• always be quiet in libraries -- patrons need quiet to "hear" what books have to say
• that just because someone else or everyone else does it, that doesn't mean you should do it too
• illegal drug use will erase--permanently--all that I've written above, so don't use drugs if you want to be a good upstanding adult
• laughter, smiling, pure joy -- without one of these, you'll still be okay, without two of these you'll be hurting, and without all three, well, life would be overwhelmingly depressing
• that celebrities aren't as important as some people think-- if you want to really meet a celebrity, visit a veteran in a nursing home or visit a retired teacher, because both have a lot to share
• don't rely just on beauty or handsomeness -- both really do fade and then what
• teach your children the items listed above -- or you might personally pay the consequences of them not knowing these basic things
• take care of your teeth -- they are amazing structures, but even teeth get old and don't work as well, especially if you never brushed or flossed
• saying prayers at bedtime may not get you the Christmas present you wanted -- but just saying them will become comforting
• know the feeling of "awe" -- look to the stars and moon and realize with awe just how small and inconsequential we all are
• figure out who you are -- there's nothing worse than looking in the mirror and wondering "Who is that?"
• figure out who you really love -- there's nothing worse than marrying for the wrong reasons then waking up, rolling over, and thinking "Who are YOU?"
• looks fade -- love never looses it's vibrant colors
• learn to laugh at yourself -- because there will always be 10 fools just waiting to laugh at you too
• know it's okay to cry, to mourn, to grieve -- tears release us to go forward into the future
• learn to listen to advice -- but as well, be strong to make your own decisions
• work hard, play harder -- love unconditionally, the hardest of all to learn

Answer 2

It is important to stay informed about current events, be open-minded to diverse perspectives, practice critical thinking, and take action to address important issues such as climate change, social injustice, and global health crises. Staying informed and engaged can help contribute to a more informed and interconnected world.