This slogan was posted on the advertising sign for a bank that I drive by on my way home from work.
I thought to myself, what a positive concept, to plant a dream.
Yet, it seems to me that adults, parents and authority figures need to do one better than plant a dream in the potentially fertile imagination of each child. Adults need to plant in children the willingness to dream and dream of a fascinating life for themselves to lead.
Once the imagination of a child is activated, the child begins to come to life. With nurturing and encouragement, that spark, that willingness to dream is a life-altering event for the child now launched on a trajectory towards leading an extraordinary life.
Teach the young to dream and they will plant the dream that they intuitively recognize as the right one for them to chase after. With patience, practice and hard work, often the dream may become new reality.
Adults must not dictate the dream to be dreamed. We must not be too directive and prescriptive.
We can advise youngsters to talk to God, to work very hard, to be ambitious, to maverize and to be moral and kind.
Beyond that point, we must withdraw and be silent. For once an individual decides to lead her life as an individual and an individuator, all must butt out. Only God and she knows what really is right for her to do, what excites her. Let her choice be her own, whether you approve or not. She is on her way and doing God's work--who are we to criticize what we could not possibly understand?
No comments:
Post a Comment