Often a person's most distinctive characteristic is how seriously they take
things in life. People are often noted as being very earnest, taking
everything in life with the utmost degree of care, as though the slightest
mistake or wrongdoing must be avoided and disparaged. On the other hand, many
people are recognized as being carefree and "happy-go-lucky", feeling that
whatever happens in life happens, and everything is well and good as long as
you are still alive.
  Both of these attitudes are often cherished as being important, yet they
are complete opposites to each other. And so the question arises: Is it
better to be earnest or carefree? Is it better to value life as something
serious, to be taken with due regard, or is it better simply to live your
life however you see fit, and accept whatever happens as an inevitable
consequence of existence?
  I grew up being rather carefree and not caring much about what happened in
life, as indeed, a vast majority of children do grow up. Many people never
leave this state, and go through life seemingly happy and peaceful. But
somewhere along the way, I, along with many other people in the world, felt
that there are more important things in the universe than mere existence, and
that in fact some things are valuable and worth believing in. I believe that
everyone should have a cause that extends beyond the simple necessities of
biological life.
  There are, however, people who take this seriousness too far. There are
several people in the world with the proverbial "chip on the shoulder" or, to
use another similar cliched metaphor, an "axe to grind". They beat their drum
any chance they get, because it is important to them and it has become a
focal point of their lives. That's understandable, perhaps even admirable,
but there comes a point where someone can take something too far. I have seen
people get into heated discussions of subjects that were important to them at
inappropriate times, and not recognizing (or perhaps caring) that it was not
the right time to press their case, they pressed onward, beating their
argument like a poor horse corpse. While their cause may have been a good
one, the result of this is not what they intend to achieve; This does not
usually win over other people to their way of thinking. Indeed, if anything,
it tends to turn other people against their viewpoint because of simple
hostility. People, failing to recognize that what is being stated is actually
important, will dismiss it as mere ravings of someone who is either angry or
insane, or both.
  Sometimes in life, there comes a time to let something pass; There are
times when it is more appropriate to say nothing and save your point for
later. There is a time to speak, and a time to listen, and though you may
have a cause to fight for (and if you don't, you should), there is a right
way and a wrong way to go about working for it.
  So take some lessons from the happy-go-lucky people in the world. Do not be
like them; Do not accept life as a simple collection of random events, but at
the same time, learn how to stay silent when it is appropriate to do so, and
to speak when the time is right. You will do more good than people who adopt
either extreme of the spectrum.