What is it that our parents want for us? Indeed, what do we want most for our children? To be safe, to be happy, to be well, to find and fulfil their purpose? To do all of these things, by their own standards or by ours? When do we trust them, after they have made their mistakes or when they have avoided ours?
What is more valuable, the answers, or that we ask such questions?
Curiosity is an outward focus, for inside lies only memory, to know the world must we pay attention to it?
Our children are reckless, they have no discipline, no idea of consequence, we must set boundaries so that they can play and learn in safety. To make survivable mistakes and build valuable life skills. As they demonstrate competence, we move those fences outwards, eventually, removing them completely.
Do we want our children to be kind or mean? Brave or fearful? Curious or arrogant?Playful or serious? Diligent or careless? All of these things at the appropriate times? When is it appropriate to be mean, scared, arrogant, serious and careless? While we are learning about the consequences of doing so, perhaps?
We want our children to be brave and courageous, to not waste their lives in timidity and doubt, yet, what did we do?
Leadership, is defined by certainty and caring. Yet of what, can we be certain and what is it we care most about?
Too much certainty is arrogance and too much caring is clinging and fearful. What then of curiosity and acceptance?
Ah that does sound like where we began, watching our children play and worrying about unacceptable outcomes…
I never said I had any answers….
Answers are what?
Our own hard won experiences, or those of others that we try to memorise?
Which is skill and which is opinion?
What is it I want for my child?
Skills born of direct experience or the memories of others, to govern her choices?
Why experience of course, and what is it I fear most for her?
The very same…
What is the price for freedom?
What is the inevitable price for life anyway?
Yes we only borrow the organic matter of our bodies, yet we cling so dearly, as if, we can hold them.
Where is joy to be found, in the clinging?
Or in the release?
I write for my own amusement, there is no meaning to be found in these words. Though perhaps in its absence, kindness may arise, unforced and unbound.
=8-P
Wisdom as Action Series
Act 1 - Do you remember?
Act 2 - What is Love?
Act 3 - Feeling Swell
Act 4 - Bound to be Free
Act 5 - Trust Issues
Act 6 - Knowledge
Act 7 - All you Desire