Good Day,

Yesterday after work a friend stopped by and became engaged in a conversation concerning todays youth, the world they live in, the world they are forming right now and where it’s all headed. The unique thing about our conversation is that between the two of us and our respective families we encompass several generations and could clearly see patterns and behaviors that shaped where we stand this very moment.

As many of you may know I am not one to believe that things are broken or wrong – I simply believe they need to be understood, embraced and challenged. This point is crucial for me because I believe we all possess the ability to change, to become more than we were  – it’s my faith.

It’s this belief that allows me to be more open and more spacious when I engage others and I feel if anything the world could use more of it. We have a generation that no longer is thrilled with their own accomplishments and creativity often takes a back seat to malicious activity and violence. The world is full of it and todays young minds are ripe for these seeds to be planted.

But they are also ripe for seeds of change. . .

Youth today is shown to be more unhappy than previous generations, even though they have more than any generation before them. Many are mean spirited and their unhappiness and insecurities spill out on around them, affecting others along it’s path. They are awash in negative messaging, shallow marketing promises, and a disposal lifestyle – if it doesn’t work throw it away, if Johnny or Suzy does not like you. . .throw them away too, you can get another friend. And on it goes through movies, commercials, games and practically all forms of entertainment and information!

What the world needs is more openness, more kindness and less isolation, less “me-ness”. This is not to say that a valid sense of self is not important, but if we teach that everyone is of the same fabric – that by hurting others WE ARE HURTING OURSELVES then we are making steps in the right direction. If we can introduce and teach kindness then we are again making steps. I mean where do you learn kindness these days? I know adults that struggle with it right now as though it’s foreign to them!

Talk about frightening.

If we can re-introduce kindness, compassion, and empathy into our societies we may just stand a chance of really doing something that prevent our worst fears from being realized. It’s no magic formula or difficult task – if we all take up the responsibility to become the difference in others lives then we all have the opportunity to GIVE and that is something that makes all human beings happy!

Peace and Love, Jim