- Teal Furnholm
- Dover, NH
- United States
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How to Kindle a Child's Hope in an Adult's Heart?
So many of the TED talks, grassroots movements etc... are reaching out to kids, about educating and motivating kids. But kids ARE energetic, their hearts aren't tainted by the bitterness of life's disapointments. I want to know, HOW DO WE RE-ENERGISE ADULTS? How do we get them to remember the wonder and awe they felt as children towards the world? To remember curiosity and the joy of simple acts of discovery and kindness. Not having despair or cynicism, but strength and compassion in the grim face of reality. That, regardless what the media wants us to think, there is hope and they can still make a difference no matter what age they are!
Topics:
Hope Our Future
Don Wesley 50+
Attitudes must change, if mind-sets are to be freed from paralysis.
Pour in more empathy molecules!
Don Wesley 50+
I have read your reply to my answers to your question [very carefully]
I am responding to the following one paragraph you wrote:
"Children are trusting, they are quick to find the joy of the moment. I only wish that adults, setting aside the fear and fatigue that holds them hostage, could find the child within and, not self conscious or fearing ridicule, learn to play once again. Maybe with a hopeful outlook towards life, we can make the next leap in social/cultural/spiritual evolution."
1. - My observation of children [over decades] allows me to declare that trusting children only grow in the care of trusting parents.
2. - As a child [From The Silent Generation - 1930's] I learned alone without the presence of my parents. They were at war!
3. - I am not hostage to fear and fatigue, etc.
4. - You have "labeled" adults as needing to be re-energized; A social problem in need of care; with their hearts tainted by the bitterness of life's disappointments.
5. – Your label does not honour your parents; they did morally good work overcoming the evils of their time.
6. – Most TED talkers are parents and grandparents; are they to be included in your label!
Teal, it would be morally right to energize your generation
to overcome the suffering victims
who exist in the world; victims of man-made disasters!
As a Great grandparent I urge to carefully re-read my contribution to your question.
I am talking about adults with kindness and loving attitudes
and brilliant hope; filled with empathy and delighting
in the genius of children.
Teal, please don’t waste your precious abilities and passion
trying to change the moral mindsets of your elders.
Love
Don
Teal Furnholm
It seems many TED talkers have figured out how to have a joyous inner child. Their eyes are open to the wonders of the world. That is why I posed the question on TED. I have observed (with the eye of a scientist, not idly) that most of the people in the midwest where I come from seem on average rather 'blah' about their existence, really only actively concerned about their family and making ends meet. It is the grand american rut, we need to get out of as a society. I am looking for the right thing to say/do to re-awaken their drive to discover, ease their brows. What would you say to someone in a rut in their life? Or maybe the question is really, how to get people into a mindset to have an interest in the things talked about on TED?
Don Wesley 50+
I applaud your study of Microbiology. My son Steven also excelled in microbiology and is now a Psychiatrist. My brother Vincent was Professor of Geophysics at the age of 24. My brothers son and his wife have Ph.D. in Particle Physics. And my early education included a physics/math major and Military Science. I was a commissioned officer in the military at 19 years of age. Later in life, the Behavioural Sciences became my specialty. That all being said, science has not been able to address the most pressing issue for humanity.
Billy Graham in his TED Talk also applauded the marvellous achievements of science, but made clear that we had failed to overcome evil and man-made suffering.
Billy Graham on technology and faith
http://www.ted.com/talks/billy_graham_on_technology_faith_and_suffering.html
[As an aside] Of course nothing is ever black or white, but I sense that a “factor” of “Pride” is keeping you from feeling empathy and kindness towards understanding my message. I plead that you rethink your mindset. It would be a great opportunity lost in my opinion if you didn’t.
I hope this helps enough to earn your thumbs-up.
Your courage to post the question has helped me to understand your position; a thumbs up to you!
Aware of and caring about you and all of humanity
Don
Don Wesley 50+
The philosophy, their refusal to accept "unconscionable court" decisions, and their power of connection to God delivered us into the splendid world we see before us now, yet not unaware of the evil still existing among us today.
Their efforts around objects "electrical," gave us telephones, and transistors all the way up to the Internet, due to their splendid work. And TED reached the World in the 1980’s.
They came into South and North America from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, leaving their elders behind, but “thankful” to their parents for education they had equipped them with. Brave minds and hearts moved them to come to the Americas.
Their young children of ages, 18, returned to the East to liberate Europe from the Evil of Nazism. They died and were buried abroad in the Countries where they fought.
This all being said about the Silent Generation we still have Evil in the world today with all the entrails of Suffering.
And the “present generations” must recognize that, “The Silent Generation” did the work while they were silent. They talked to God and silently did what had to be done to get us where we are today. They led the battle for Good! They fought the evils of their times!
The Internet is a powerful “Tool” to communicate; will it be where we will find todays Leaders of Good and overcome the Evils of today! Will the Internet be all Talk and no force for action?
We need to find touch, and intimacy in our own small villages, otherwise we will become paralysed with Excruciating loneliness, in the inter-Internet-Cafe’s where we go for a talk and a ‘Fix.’
I cry out as a Piper “Overcome Evil.” Give the poor and suffering their daily bread and heal them!
Move into action, and fight the evils of our times!
From a Great Grand Parent from the Silent Generation,
Don Wesley 50+
I believe that old men, who have lived out their lives according the laws of the creator[s], hold the distilled truths about children. Children are simply amazing little bundles of wonder. I talked to three old men who fit this criteria during the past few days [hours of asking and listening] and heard beautiful stories of what they learned from their parents at ages of 3, 4 and more. All these men were brought up on the farm, where survival depended on knowledge and wisdom. Without that knowledge and wisdom their stories were filled with suffering.
Instant happiness flows from me in the presence of a child. They are so precious, so beautiful. Learn from the child within us!
Good old people are masterpieces of distilled wisdom. Go and talk to your parents and grand parents while they are still alive and listen to their answers to “What are the Top things that their parents taught them before 6?” You will be amazed and you will do them honour! Realize that you get more things wrong than right!
Valerie Netto
Teal Furnholm
Don Wesley 50+
It makes me feel peaceful and in a state eager to live in heaven.
Please take a look at what I like to see – 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Aware of and caring about you
Don [From The Silent Generation - 1930's]
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"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." — Albert Einstein
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1. - http://innjustice.blogspot.com/2011/12/love.html
2. - http://innjustice.blogspot.com/2011/05/homeless-again-god-please-help-me.html
3. - http://innjustice.blogspot.com/2011/05/look-of-kindness-in-action.html
4. - http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/boy_dog.html
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Teal Furnholm
Tim Petersen
That is it. In a nutshell, as they say. It works for me and I truly have a child's hope, and spend many moments is awe of all that is mystery. I hope this helps. Good question.
Oh yea, always do your best to honor truth and keep a distance from deceit.
Teal Furnholm
Don Wesley 50+
Most of us who are from The Silent Generation - 1930's are energized.
We are active and talk less.
Teal, I would love to learn how you reached the view that you have!
Have you taked to your Grand Parents!
Aware of and caring about you
Don [From The Silent Generation - 1930's]
Teal Furnholm
Also, there was an eye-opening study at my university. They put open bins of soda around campus with a box attached to put a dollar/can, completely on the honor's system. EVERYONE PAID! The ones that didnt put a dollar in immediately, came back later. We have become so mistrusting of eachother, it is fear that destroys a civilization.
Children are trusting, they are quick to find the joy of the moment. I only wish that adults, setting aside the fear and fatigue that holds them hostage, could find the child within and, not self conscious or fearing ridicule, learn to play once again. Maybe with a hopeful outlook towards life, we can make the next leap in social/cultural/spiritual evolution.