When we are old enough to have teenagers and young adults, we are old enough to wish we were that age again. We have a sort of subconscious wish to go back and “get it right.” We have a sort of envy of their freedom. We worry about their choices constantly because we can see the future adn they are headed for disaster, or a hard life, or at least suffering with some of the choices they make.
But here’s the thing. When we project into the future, we are seeing ONE possible result of what might have happened to US in OUR TIME had WE made that choice.
But we cannot see our own future, much less someone else’s. Some choices seem just blindingly stupid, adn are in face quite likely to have some negative consequence but it is a consequence they will learn from (or die trying). Regardless – and I do not mean to sound cold – it is THEIR path.
When it comes down to it, you do’t know their path, their journey, their purpose or their future. Choices that seem bad to you might be just right to forward them towards their purpose, and choices that seem good to you might just lead them to misery.
The solution is to recognize and accept that you don’t know. Let go. Be happy when they are happy. Offer a hug (virtual or otherwise) when they are sad. Recognize that your sage advice and other forms of “help” may do more harm than good. And focus on making YOUR life amazing.
This amazingly on-point perspective is not mine (although I would love to claim it). It was courtesy of my youngest son, Quinn. He is an old soul prone to profound insight on human behavior. Thank you, Quinn!
