ATTENTION: all,
parents, guardians, teachers and every adult that impacts kids’ lives
today. Forget the “I told you so” and the “you should haves”, the
lectures, group seminars, one-on-one counseling sessions, power point
presentations and all of that “blah..blah…blah” pedagogy we use to
instill in our children the do's and don'ts of living a moral life.
These strategies veer way to the left of getting at our core, our
soul. It is story that is at our core, our soul. Story is strong
and vibrant and allows each individual an opportunity to personalize meaning
that can positively influence their life’s path.
Oral stories relate to
us in our psyche. At an early age, our society inculcates values.
Think about the following children’s stories and their lessons. “Little
Red Riding Hood” teaches about listening to the voice of authority.
“Snow White” illustrates the evils of self-absorption. The children’s
author, Dr. Seuss, makes clear the repercussions of deadbeat parenting in
“Horton Hatches the Egg” and in “The Star-bellied Sneeches,” he speaks to the
timeless topic of prejudices and racism.
STORYTELLING
WORKS! Recovering addicts give their testimonies to send us
inspiration. Have you ever been to a Weight Watcher’s meeting? Who
are the leaders? “The Biggest Losers” and at every meaning, they motivate
us via their personal successes. Dave Ramsey, a Christian guru on
personal finances makes it a point to allude to his previous
bankruptcies.
YES, we all have our
own stories and they deserve to be told. Tell the one about the biggest
mistake of your life and how you dealt with it. Give children a step up
on how to deal with bad decisions… we all make them. Include your story
about deceit and conceit….we all have one. Don’t forget the part about
how it never worked to your advantage.
HAVE I CONVINCED YOU
YET? Go forth and tell your story and equip our children, our future
leaders, with a set of strong morals and values that you as parents, guardians,
teachers and caring adults leave
them as your legacy.
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