**Being an Adult: Part One**

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم

Welcome to the adult toughness class.

This is Mr. Tough.

You are an adult. I’m sorry, you’re not a baby. I’m not going to hold your hand. You’re not getting a video—maybe in the future. Now I’m going to try to do this with words because entertainment is unacceptable.

As an adult, you have been shaped by the environment you have received, by circumstances you have faced, and by many things that were out of your control. There’s nothing you can do; you are where you are.

No one is going to put you back together. This is the ship called life. It’s moving 100 miles an hour, and it’s not going to stop for you. But don’t worry—you could stop time. Just make sure the sun doesn’t rise tomorrow. You know, if the sun doesn’t rise, then we can fix you. Tell all the governments in the world to make sure the sun doesn’t rise tomorrow. You have a lot of jets, a lot of military. Please, shoot the sun down. I need to fix myself. See you at sundown. I’ll be back. LOL.

So, as an adult, there is no fixing yourself. There’s only remaining present with your solutions and your moments, and making sure your past is completely absent. You can never be present with your past. Whatever happened five minutes ago is gone. You’re officially in a new moment, in a new timeline, with new thoughts, a new heartbeat, and a new breath.

If you can remember that, you unlock the keys to happiness because you’re happy all the time. Unfortunately, we know it’s not that easy because, well, humans and problems and life. You know, if only you got that advice—and if only other humans could live like that as well—it would be a wonderful world. Unfortunately, it’s not.

You need to remember why we are here as adults. Why is that?

Because, as I mentioned in my children’s series, you have a soul. You have a mechanism holding you together. If you’re confused about whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s because of your purity. You’re so pure that you can be defiled. That’s what I find amazing.

Love tattoos on your body? You don’t know where you’re going? If you’re a woman, it’s even worse. You have hormones. You’re four people in one month. And if you have menopause—well, even better. You have hot flashes. You’re like, “What the heck is going on? This body is failing me. Life has not been fair. It’s horrible to be human.” You’re just whining.

I need to tell you: stop whining. Your problems are your greatest gift. Your struggles are your greatest gift. It’s called the journey of life—the ups and the lows between the valleys of life.

Don’t project your anger and frustration on other people. And really, we just have to go into marriage. Oh my God, what kind of hell is that? LOL.

What do I know about marriage? I have a strong mother who psychologically and emotionally raised me very well. Do you think I learned something? Am I very good now? No, I’m not. I’m still being taught. Mentally, I’m not there. I have to learn.

Why are you asking me a question when I’m thinking? Why are you getting inside my head? It took a long time to figure out all the secrets she’s got. It’s difficult when someone is smarter than you. They just make you feel better. They make the world better. You’re like, “My God, I never want to go anywhere. I’m under the hands of a master.” I get food, I get love, I get whatever I want—but still, I have to do a lot of housework.

For example, if she wants the house cleaned and I disagree, she will say, “You know what, I’m going to do it myself.” And sometimes she says, “My back is hurting, but I’m going to keep doing it.” Okay, ouch.

I jump up like a champion. “Don’t worry about it. You know you’re hurting yourself. I’m going to do deep cleaning. I’m going to get my toothbrush.” Like, “Just wait! Why don’t you sit like a queen? Let me get to work.” It’s happened many times. I’ve learned what’s called reverse psychology.

I said, “You never went to school. How do you know this stuff?”

She replied, “Because I’ve been with you all your life. I know you more than anybody.”

I saw her blessed with her own car, her own business, learning how to drive her own stick shift while surrounded by men who said I shouldn’t allow a woman to drive. She just stayed quiet. It’s her car, her income, and she’s going to do whatever she wants. If anyone brought it up, I’d slap them in the face.

The instructor said, “I can’t teach you.” She said, “Learn to drive properly. Do business. End of story.” And I got to see that.

So, someone driving a stick shift, running a business, and being very independent becomes a hero. To the point where I remember one time, she was just doing what she does—being a great leader, telling many men to do their jobs. When we were driving back, I said, “You’re the queen. You’re the best thing to ever grace this earth.”

She said, “What are you talking about?”

I said, “Didn’t you say that?”

She replied, “No. Have some confidence as a man. You’re not supposed to say that. Stop praising yourself.”

She was raised by an officer. She used to clean the officer’s boots. She got a lot of tough love. She’s been clean and orderly all her life. Even my dad—it was very weird. We didn’t see him much, LOL. His food was always on time. She ran the household like a queen.

At the end of the day, people should think about what it means to respect others’ privacy. You don’t go around to strangers knocking on doors, telling them all your business. Nobody does that.

When family isn’t present, you get brave. Hopefully, future generations will be braver than I am. At the end of the day, privacy and honor are sacred, and we must protect them.

This is **Being an Adult: Part One**. Let’s build resilience together.