For Today: September 12th

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enthusiasm must be encouraged beginning in earliest childhood.  Give the crawling baby space to explore; it is a crime against nature to squelch that curiosity, that eagerness to learn about the world.

Mothers who dream of their children growing up to do great things must give those children the freedom to develop their powers.  If parents use their own God-given intelligence, they can provide a child with both room to grow and a reasonable degree of safety.

Aware parents may also meet with their children's teachers.  Look first for enthusiasm in a teacher, everything follows from that.

It is equally important to show enthusiasm at home.  There is endless beauty and mystery to share with a child, to marvel at and explore together.

For Today:  Enthusiasm is contagious.  It is a gift i give to everyone around me, especially children.

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It seems to me that, in our society, a child is encouraged to squash DOWN his enthusiasm.  Don't be too loud, too boisterous, too talkative, too opinionated, too excited. Follow the pack & blend in.........fly under the radar & toe the line no matter WHAT. 

As a child, I was taught to worry. To be distrustful, wary, leery of all the liars & thieves that lurked, waiting to pounce on me at every turn. Excitement was reserved for food only.......I developed compulsive overeating habits as a coping mechanism to deal with life.  Since everything was ugly & worrisome and problematic, I had to find a way to anesthetize myself and protect myself from all of that!

When my son was very small, he loved to take things apart. I wanted him to pursue that interest, although I didn't know what purpose it would serve. Instead of worrying that he'd hurt himself, I allowed him to flourish & to enjoy himself.  I'd go to the backdoor of Goodwill & ask if they had any broken appliances they couldn't sell.  They always did........and I'd give them a few dollar donation and come home with what I called a Santa Bag full of junk for him to take apart!  I wanted to give my children the freedom to explore their interests without being bogged down by all the 'what if's' and worries about things that 'could happen if they weren't careful.'

As badly as I've screwed up my OWN life, I didn't squash my children's spirit & enthusiasm.  For that I am extremely grateful. I didn't do to THEM what was done to ME. I broke the cycle of dysfunction & for that, I am proud of myself.