Such good advice! No one could have achieved what I have . No one else could have achieved it for me. It’s not because I am special but rather because each individual is placed in their own individual and unique set of circumstances . Your examination of inner strength is right on point.
Thank you for sharing. I spent many years in different religions that were very narrow minded. It's too easy to be told what to do and believe, rather than find your own path.
Nothing great comes from easy.
Everything great is on the other side of fear and difficulty.
That's why so many people never learn to think for themselves, and never find who they really are.
An insightful piece of writing, Doc. Nice job, as usual.
I suppose it's impossible for at least a certain amount of "indoctrination" not to occur when a child is being raised by its parents. After all, just teaching basic lessons of right from wrong is itself indoctrination of a type. But I believe the best parents are the ones who raise their children the way mine raised me, with hopes and support for my success in life but the freedom to pursue that for myself, essentially unencumbered by any unfulfilled dreams or wishes they may have had for themselves. And I know they had a few.
I wasn't told what to think or how to believe so much as I was simply given an example of how to lead a good and honorable life just by watching how my parents lead their own ordinary, everyday lives, mistakes and all. And once gone from home I was not just allowed but was expected to stand on my own two feet, with advice seldom being offered but always given if asked for, with the caveat that any and all decision making was absolutely up to me and no one else.
And if that's indoctrination, I'm so grateful to have been indoctrinated by them, since their examples have sustained me through good and bad, thick and thin for more than 7 decades now and continue to do so, even as I now watch my own daughters, raised under much different circumstances than those of my own childhood but to whom I did my best to give the same freedom to think and decide things for themselves, raising children of their own.
I'm pretty sure the best minds and strongest people are those raised free of expectations to be anything other than the best that they can and want to be. And a parent living their life vicariously through a child is wasting not one life but two.
Think, act, dance, be! 🕺
Such good advice! No one could have achieved what I have . No one else could have achieved it for me. It’s not because I am special but rather because each individual is placed in their own individual and unique set of circumstances . Your examination of inner strength is right on point.
Brilliant column
With every challenge a chance to rise
Another great post. Hits really close to home.
Thank you for sharing. I spent many years in different religions that were very narrow minded. It's too easy to be told what to do and believe, rather than find your own path.
Nothing great comes from easy.
Everything great is on the other side of fear and difficulty.
That's why so many people never learn to think for themselves, and never find who they really are.
An insightful piece of writing, Doc. Nice job, as usual.
I suppose it's impossible for at least a certain amount of "indoctrination" not to occur when a child is being raised by its parents. After all, just teaching basic lessons of right from wrong is itself indoctrination of a type. But I believe the best parents are the ones who raise their children the way mine raised me, with hopes and support for my success in life but the freedom to pursue that for myself, essentially unencumbered by any unfulfilled dreams or wishes they may have had for themselves. And I know they had a few.
I wasn't told what to think or how to believe so much as I was simply given an example of how to lead a good and honorable life just by watching how my parents lead their own ordinary, everyday lives, mistakes and all. And once gone from home I was not just allowed but was expected to stand on my own two feet, with advice seldom being offered but always given if asked for, with the caveat that any and all decision making was absolutely up to me and no one else.
And if that's indoctrination, I'm so grateful to have been indoctrinated by them, since their examples have sustained me through good and bad, thick and thin for more than 7 decades now and continue to do so, even as I now watch my own daughters, raised under much different circumstances than those of my own childhood but to whom I did my best to give the same freedom to think and decide things for themselves, raising children of their own.
I'm pretty sure the best minds and strongest people are those raised free of expectations to be anything other than the best that they can and want to be. And a parent living their life vicariously through a child is wasting not one life but two.
Thank you for these wise words.
You realize I assume that many people may follow all that you say and end up following right wing thinking
Really really good dose of daily wisdom especially for a reformed Dylan freak
It may be the devil it may be the Lord…
Thank you for including the fact that freedom implies responsibility, for ourselves and toward others.
This is beautiful! Inspiring and wonderful look at aspects of life and relationships. 💙