It's Time to Celebrate Children!

This month, our newsletter centers around celebrating the children in our midst. Too often, adults discount kids as immature and not capable of tackling social change, however history is showing us that they stand up for what they believe in and, have made amazing things happen. Whether it is Greta Thunberg‘s actions towards climate change, school walkouts against gun violence, food drives towards freeing kids from starvation or a thoughtful child doing good in the community; their motivation and deeds have been noteworthy. Because here’s the thing: typically, we pay attention to the qualities we admire in other adults, and less about the qualities we admire in young people. We need to recognize that they have an important role to play in advocating for a more just, equitable world, as much as we need to nurture and support their ideas and endeavors. 

As mother of two grown boys, and in large part because of my work, I have spent decades turning toward younger people for their insights and wisdom. They teach me valuable life lessons; they put me to task, increase my knowledge around important societal issues such as gender, sexual orientation, diversity and inclusivity as well as, challenge my assumptions, narratives and limiting beliefs. In fact, it is because of younger generational thinking, that I am who I am.

On November 20th, let's collectively turn our sights toward the children in our world, in tandem with United Nations' Universal Children’s Day. Since 1954, Universal Children's Day promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. However, let's not stop there. Make a commitment to yourself to stay open curious, and compassionate to the younger people in your life.

To get you started, we want to challenge your thinking around kids. Just click here and try a free activity that has the potential in bringing you closer together, and hopefully, open new windows of understanding of their innate and unique wisdom. 

By Theo Koffler, speaker, author and founder of Mindfulness Without Borders – a charitable organization that facilitates programs and workshops to strengthen social and emotional intelligence and secular mindfulness in youth and the adults that surround them.