Teach Your Children

I believe the greatest lessons we can teach our children (all children) are those of the interconnectedness of all beings and our natural world. Religious teachings that have placed heaven and God as existing only outside of the world can lead to dissociation which harms our sense of connection. Whatever spiritual (or non-spiritual) beliefs we hold, the recognition of the sacredness, or preciousness of every living thing, as well as the earth, water, air, and all of our community of nature, is important to instill at a very young age. The prevalence of a sense of isolation and loneliness is exacerbated by feeling unconnected to nature and our greater communities. Giving thanks for clean water and air, as well as healthy food, are ways to remind our children, and ourselves, of their importance. Prayer is commonly associated with religion, but most cultures have ancient traditional ways of verbalizing and internalizing appreciation for life-giving sustenance. Creating your own prayer with your family can be a way of harnessing the power of our words to bring our recognition and our respect for nature and our interdependence with one another to the forefront in our lives. If we have the ability to share those gifts with others, this is also a way to teach respect for all life. Bringing baked goods or fruits and veggies from our gardens to our neighbors is a way to create community and support one another. If we recognize the struggle of others and wish to provide a helping hand it is a benefit to the giver as well as the receiver. In addition, I believe we should try to find ways to inform ourselves and provide our children with more information on the environmental costs of our purchases. Living with intention and consciousness is exemplified in every word and deed young people observe.