OK, I know where that is. We are in the northern part of the state, pretty close to the southern Michigan border, but also the northwestern part of Ohio.
Thanks for sharing this Jeannie and highlighting the wisdom of the wizened young. I was arrested by her question "Can our choices ruin the world?" followed immediately by the context you provided in the words "That’s how concerned my oldest is about kindness, or the lack thereof, and its effects on others."
So often, and rightly so, we are concerned by how our choices as consumers and voters and generally lives on this beautiful planet, how our choices are impacting the health of our land, rivers, air, and seas. There is weight in that. And in that context yes, our choices can both ruin and save the world. But the context you gave made the question read "Can our choices around kindness and how we foster it, and who we give it to, and who we withhold it from, ruin the world? ". And that, to me is a weighty question. The the words of writer you mentioned who doesn't believe in wisdom, just got pushed under by the textured searching of a young and wise guardian of our world.
Your comment is so thoughtful, Melanie. Thank you. I hadn't thought of what you mentioned, about how might the choices we make around kindness and how we foster it, as you wrote, be either positive or negative. Great point. Much to ponder!
I love how you challenge the conventional idea of wisdom. Your daughter's insights are a testament to the fact that wisdom isn't confined to age or experience. Children, with their unfiltered observations and innate empathy, often possess a unique kind of wisdom that adults can learn from. It reminds me of the saying, "Out of the mouths of babes..."
Very true, Alexander! It always makes me smile to see your comments. They are so thoughtful and you bring fresh perspective to the conversation. Thank you for that.
Very nice, Jeannie. I like that Felicity had some say in this essay. Tell her hi for me!
I think wisdom and maturity are very similar. And I think they both come from reaching a level of self-confidence, or perhaps call it self-letting-go, that you understand how little you understand. Therefore, you don't feel the need to assert or prove yourself. The result: you see all people as your teacher, no matter their age! Thanks to Felicity for today's lesson!
Agree, Don - maturity is reaching the point of accepting that we are as human as the next person. Superiority and inferiority dissolve. I think only when that happens can we truly be companions to each other.
Jeannie, Felicity is amazing, and, yes, the young can be wise. Her focus on kindness and healing are so wonderful, and I just love her poem. I'm a firm believer that art improves the world -- whether it be writing, dance, acting, drawing, painting, etc. My Substack publication is partly about the healing nature of art. In fact, to me art equals self-care.
My 16-year-old daughter also has a great deal of wisdom; in fact, more than what I had at 16. People often dismiss teenagers, but they have powerful insights and powerful voices. We must let their voices be heard, as you do so well with your oldest daughter.
Felicity is immensely wise as I find most children are, even those bound up in the ickiness of adolescence. And I can confirm that it is when I started writing again that I started feeling useful to the world again. The products I made, the money I earned, the deals I closed while working the big job did not heal nor create "a conduit for wholeness." But my writing, sometimes, I think it just might. And it's that possibility that keeps me going. So, thank you to Felicity for who she is and to you for sharing her with us. (And for being a kick ass mom who obviously is raising a genius...duh)
I appreciate your thoughtful comment here, Jess. You are right - the "ickiness of adolescence" doesn't negate the fact that most teens still have very powerful insights and do care deeply about the world. So glad to hear that writing has been a vessel for you to find value in your voice and in sharing it with others!
I just moved from Indiana to Kentucky. I am grateful for crossing your Substack!
So glad to see you here, Nina, and welcome! Where in Indiana? We are in Fort Wayne.
I moved from southern Indiana around Greensburg/Columbus.
OK, I know where that is. We are in the northern part of the state, pretty close to the southern Michigan border, but also the northwestern part of Ohio.
Felicity is no doubt a WRITER. Poor Bubbie!*
*I once had a professor say this to me after reading one of my short stories. RIP Professor Diana George.
Bubbie was my parents' old dog's name, too, Rafael. Very cute. Thank you for this!
Thanks for sharing this Jeannie and highlighting the wisdom of the wizened young. I was arrested by her question "Can our choices ruin the world?" followed immediately by the context you provided in the words "That’s how concerned my oldest is about kindness, or the lack thereof, and its effects on others."
So often, and rightly so, we are concerned by how our choices as consumers and voters and generally lives on this beautiful planet, how our choices are impacting the health of our land, rivers, air, and seas. There is weight in that. And in that context yes, our choices can both ruin and save the world. But the context you gave made the question read "Can our choices around kindness and how we foster it, and who we give it to, and who we withhold it from, ruin the world? ". And that, to me is a weighty question. The the words of writer you mentioned who doesn't believe in wisdom, just got pushed under by the textured searching of a young and wise guardian of our world.
Your comment is so thoughtful, Melanie. Thank you. I hadn't thought of what you mentioned, about how might the choices we make around kindness and how we foster it, as you wrote, be either positive or negative. Great point. Much to ponder!
I love how you challenge the conventional idea of wisdom. Your daughter's insights are a testament to the fact that wisdom isn't confined to age or experience. Children, with their unfiltered observations and innate empathy, often possess a unique kind of wisdom that adults can learn from. It reminds me of the saying, "Out of the mouths of babes..."
Very true, Alexander! It always makes me smile to see your comments. They are so thoughtful and you bring fresh perspective to the conversation. Thank you for that.
You are so kind - thank you for sharing with all of us!
Very nice, Jeannie. I like that Felicity had some say in this essay. Tell her hi for me!
I think wisdom and maturity are very similar. And I think they both come from reaching a level of self-confidence, or perhaps call it self-letting-go, that you understand how little you understand. Therefore, you don't feel the need to assert or prove yourself. The result: you see all people as your teacher, no matter their age! Thanks to Felicity for today's lesson!
Agree, Don - maturity is reaching the point of accepting that we are as human as the next person. Superiority and inferiority dissolve. I think only when that happens can we truly be companions to each other.
Jeannie, Felicity is amazing, and, yes, the young can be wise. Her focus on kindness and healing are so wonderful, and I just love her poem. I'm a firm believer that art improves the world -- whether it be writing, dance, acting, drawing, painting, etc. My Substack publication is partly about the healing nature of art. In fact, to me art equals self-care.
My 16-year-old daughter also has a great deal of wisdom; in fact, more than what I had at 16. People often dismiss teenagers, but they have powerful insights and powerful voices. We must let their voices be heard, as you do so well with your oldest daughter.
Thank you, Beth. I agree with you that art is a form of self-care. No wonder some people go into art therapy!
I'd love to hear more about your 16yo daughter sometime, too. Again, I agree with you that teenagers have so much to offer, yet we often dismiss them.
My goal is to showcase Felicity more often here.
Felicity is immensely wise as I find most children are, even those bound up in the ickiness of adolescence. And I can confirm that it is when I started writing again that I started feeling useful to the world again. The products I made, the money I earned, the deals I closed while working the big job did not heal nor create "a conduit for wholeness." But my writing, sometimes, I think it just might. And it's that possibility that keeps me going. So, thank you to Felicity for who she is and to you for sharing her with us. (And for being a kick ass mom who obviously is raising a genius...duh)
I appreciate your thoughtful comment here, Jess. You are right - the "ickiness of adolescence" doesn't negate the fact that most teens still have very powerful insights and do care deeply about the world. So glad to hear that writing has been a vessel for you to find value in your voice and in sharing it with others!
I find I sometimes learn the most from those who see the world with less shaded eyes. That youth offers important clarity we’d be wise to listen to.
Agree, Jess. I discovered that when I was a high school counselor. Teens get such a bad rap, but they have good hearts.