Dec. 30, 2007
Teach your kids to dream!
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I love getting Christmas letters from friends and family. Not those dreadful bragadocious ones but the ones that allow you to catch up with what's happening. The letters this year were the usual: kid activities, trips that were taken, etc...But there were a few that were bittersweet: a friend reporting the return of cancer, the ongoing recovery of a spinal cord injury. It occurred to me that many times our Christmas letters are a reflection of how life has happened, much of it beyond our control. But how often does reflection on a passing year include goals that have been reached and victories that were planned for and achieved--even if they were small? A wise man once said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it." I like that. It rings with my quest in life to live intentionally. What are your dreams? What are your passions? What makes you come alive? We've been busy working on our goals for next year and I thought, "Hey! Let's 'write' our Christmas letter for 2008!" The idea being, I don't want 2008 to be on autopilot. Inevitable things happen. The kids will grow, hard times will come and there'll be times of refreshing. But the fulfillment of dreams don't just happen. It's been a fun project; it provided some lively conversation in the van as we drove to a park today. And while I'm uncertain if we'll be able to pull off a trip to Australia in 2008....there's always 2009. Another year to dream....and plan. I see this is especially important for parents to do with their kids. Why? Because there are adults stumbling around without an inkling of what they want to do...because they were never taught how to identify and go after their dreams. For me, it wasn't that my folks were bad parents. Mom was rich in her encouragement that "you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it." (Problem--I didn't know what the heck I wanted. And while she knew of that truth, she was not free to model it for me; she labored at a horrid job to raise us kids- pretty much single-handedly. And Dad---God bless his soul --had the saying of "one long day..." (Meaning---probably never!) Que sera, sera. Just today, we got involved in a discussion with a friend who's in their late 40's---and still can't figure out what he wants to do when he grows up. This is a man who wants to write his next Christmas letter before it happens---but he feels inadequate to the task. People! Right now there are folks getting off of boats from abroad with a bag in hand and nothing but a dream. Five years from now they'll be wealthy. Don't underestimate the power of a dream. Go climb your mountain or start a business. Travel abroad---learn a foreign language. Take dance lessons, go paint a picture. You'll be doing yourself--and your kids, a favor. While my parenting flaws are many, one I will fight tooth and nail is the temptation to succumb to a life of inertia. I believe teaching our kids to live intentionally is one of the greatest gifts we can bestow. How would you like YOUR future Christmas letter to read? Round up the Munchkins and have some fun dreaming... (PS Chocolate Ice Cream helps stimulate ideas.) |
Comments
Dec. 30, 2007 - Hi
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Posted by Dec. 31, 2007 - Of course, no tript to Australia is complete...
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