INTRODUCTION

In our first AOV feature for year 2009 is a very interesting, energetic and loving young lad, Luka Babic. He is our latest kid on the block with lots of fun and so much to offer. Ever since Luka joined us early this year, he has set himself apart from the rest of our community members of his age group by identifying with most of the laudable activities in the community and participating actively in many forums. Luka exhibits a very formidable and entertaining style of interaction through his engrossing posts, mostly spiced up with lots jokes and funny use of words. This has so far endeared him to so many members and earned him battalions of fans and accolades of honor in the community in the last few months of his stay.

Luka is a true young lad laden with grace, talent and an ongoing commitment of keeping his family and fans lively and happy. His Article of Virtue "Life’s Madden Shoes – two sizes bigger" sums up what is evident in the minds of our young people today regarding career choice in relation to the present world economic situation. At the end, young Luka could not control his emotional family feelings especially to his dearest and most significant possession in life, his mother; Lady Branka Babic.

Thank God mother has thought Luka not to waste emotions on tears, but to be strong and engage life’s thorny road with determination and positivity. However, for most of us, especially those who can feel Luka’s pains, cannot help but shed tears for our boy child. It is a memorable work and I am happy to bring Luka’s Article of Virtue to your reading pleasure. 

Thank You Luka for being a “Man Boy” and for sharing your ‘all’ with us here. We love you dear friend and we sincerely wish you and your family well!

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When I received an invitation from my dear friend Sam Sunday to participate in this forum, I was feeling pretty blue, burnt out from my dilemmas and “trilemmas” about my future profession.  But knowing that no one else can bite the bullet except me, I decided to refresh my spirit and mind ... knowing I am in Adland - the Most Beautiful Land upon the earth.

The spring is still procrastinating from coming to my region and I am missing it greatly. The grey sky above Belgrade ... and too depressive faces along the streets, too heavy traffic ... too big smog concentration  ... OMG - I do not like being augmentative! But, who cares?

Actually, I was born with one terrific augmentation... the shoes being always two sizes bigger than needed. People call it “premature maturity”. Any kind of pondering on these matters does not go down well with my mother. My mother considers them as a hobby of driving the car backwards, wasting the time while cherishing some self-pity. She considers as totally nonsensical, the expression "premature maturity", the same way as may be considered “black whiteness or white blackness” lol. While scientists may treat this "premature maturity" in relation to drugs like some type of addictions ... science itself is still far from definitive answer, and the precise number of such cases is highly speculative, my case is still not fully researched, I must say.

Before having an entrance examination to the University, I AM ALREADY GETTING READY TO BE RETIRED ! Seriously, I am ready.

If I decide to study Medicine, apart from being a very expensive, intensive and long-running course ... it is not easy to get an employment ... and when eventually you find one – some miserable “black-mails” are offered rather than ANY good salary in the first year or two. Well, after this first year or two ... if I please my bosses and still stay employed  ... my monthly income would not be enough for the elementary and basic expenses. My personality does not fit to any bribes or to corruption, so my mother has to invest too much into my future "impoverishment", I suppose!!

If I decide to become an Actor, for what I have people say is my big talent ... that would be pretty cheaper.

I cannot become a journalist because I am not a liar and cannot carry foreign heads on my shoulders.

Priests live as little gods in the shoes, but their shoes only fit them well, and can only be considered as smaller than is required, never bigger ... I never would be able to sell my love for God, or to be a paid preacher. That is why I cannot go to the Theological College or University.

I admire Physics ... but ... but ... but ... man must eat something, okay?

My dear Sir Roger, when he reads this article, would scream out : LUKA, BE NORMAL AND LEAVE THAT PLACE ! He is one smart and great man I know! One of dearest persons I ever met. Maybe he can hear my sigh now!

My grandparents are old, ill and pretty exhausted from some big adversities they have passed through. Occasionally, I use to argue with them ... but my heart is crying for them now. I cannot leave my Mom, knowing that besides working too hard, she has to also take care of the two of them. She would encourage me to fly away ... and will give her best to earn enough for the expenses ... but ... she is only a human being, a lady, and what if .... ? WHAT IF ? Yes, I do believe she is special. In my eyes SHE IS 7 GIANTS IN ONE WOMAN ... BUT .... that word "BUT" tells enough. My mother deserves to live as a Queen, yes I really mean it, but she is slave!! Too humble, too compassionate, too diligent, too modest, too tired!!!!!! I really do not like being augmentative. In this case, they are more dangerous than their oppositions, kind of ...

I actually planned for something humorous in this whole article of virtue and I sure started that way ... but Luka cannot lie nor pretend. I am sorry I had to veer off about my deeper feelings, that is how I am feeling right now, still I am blue, and do not wish to move out of my too-big shoes even for a short walk around.

Thanks for spending some time with me. I know that love when is shared also increases. Hope that my shared dilemma would give me some respite.

God bless you all!

Thank you dear friends!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Luka Babic is the son of our very active an illustrious lady of our community, Lady Branka Barbic. He was born 1990 in Yugoslavia when, according to him, "his country was starting to die slowly".

He joined Adlandpro community February 2009 and since then has spent time entertaining and adding loads of fun to the community.

Luka’s Bio is one that every member of this vibrant community should read; it is as informative, entertaining as inspiring.

Hear him: ”I am not grateful to Branka (mother) because she gave birth to me….and that`s nothing to be grateful to her for….. but, for having her as a teacher with the biggest love I ever met or have heard for it ...I am grateful more than I can say”

<<click here to read all about Luka Babic>>

Youth is portrayed so much in a negative way by the media worldwide that we start to believe it.  Youth is that transition from childhood to adulthood that we, as adults, have to pass through. We at Adland have, in the main, already passed that milestone, hopefully with positive results.

Occasionally, an adult emerges who is able to bridge the invisible differences between generations. Less often, a young person emerges who usually, unknowingly, fills this role.  Such a person is Luka Babic.

Luka is an inspiration. He has built a following of friends here who enjoy his humour, his honesty, his wisdom, his naivete and his vulnerability. Luka has demonstrated that it is ok to show love and respect for his mother, for his family and friends, yet he is not afraid to disagree.

Luka is faced with that decision in life which most of us have to face. How do I make a living or a future for myself?  

He is able to tell us just how he feels and tells us all about his choices. In today’s world young people can expect a future in which they will be faced with career changes several times but this does not detract from the pain of choosing. All who know Luka know that he will make the right choice for himself.

By his vulnerability, Luka shows a beautiful spirit who is willing to share even his darkest moments. We all know that he will bounce back to that amusing and cheeky young man we love. We have had many good laughs with him.

Despite his present dilemma, I predict a great future for this inspiring and very human person.

Finally, without realising it, by taking part in communications, in what is not his first language, he makes small mistakes with words and grammar that make it necessary for us to really read his submissions in order to fully understand. In this way Luka is probably one of the most closely read of all Adlanders, and deservedly so.

All of his friends are proud to be so. He inspires and brings out the best in all of us.

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