Should we know where we’re going? Aren’t there many “experts” out there who direct us to make goals, make money, become powerful, become - somebody? Is one not enough just to be?
This sounds too philosophical for me so I dare not venture too far (as if I’m an expert on this)! I’ve made goals from time to time, and money, oh, yes that huge requisite for ownership to get by in life. Powerful? Please. I do believe however, that we are all sending powerful lessons to others throughout our lives, simply by living our lives.
Whether we want to or not, we constantly teach others about life, about attitudes, about values, about priorities, about what it means to be human.
We don’t always have a choice in what the outcome of our “lessons” will be for others. A lot depends on the receiver’s ability or their own willingness to learn from others and to take a self-inventory to determine if one needs to grow, change, adjust or simply continue as is.
The lessons start of course in our childhood. Parents, guardians, teachers, other adults are living their lives - some conscious of their behavior, some not, but the child absorbs the lessons, with the mind of a child. Concrete. I remember when I was about 5 or 6 years old, having my mom be told by another adult that dad “got fired” from his job. I could sense something wrong, fearful, was going on. I remember thinking he had actually caught on fire! I really believed he was burned! Only later when I saw him I found he wasn’t burned at all! Somebody along the way explained what being fired from a job meant. Still I sense dread thinking of that phrase today.
But growing up and on - so many factors will affect the lessons. Sure, structured lessons like school, college, job training; and unstructured ones from friends or from busy-bodies knowing what’s-good-for-you. A lot of these are obvious. But not so obvious is what I said before - simply living our lives.
One person may be impressed by you and want to emulate you; another may think you’re crazy! You don’t have a choice in what they learn. You are simply the teacher.
We certainly can get an idea of what kind of lessons we’re providing to others. Take a self-inventory. Do I lie? Do I cheat? Do I work hard or am I lazy? Do I pray? Do I care? Do I have to be in the limelight? Do I have to receive constant approval? Do I accept my faults? Do I forgive myself and others? I could go on and on.
Personal choice. Personal inventory. You are a teacher and a student - simply by living life.
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