Go for the Gold

What act is more universally awe-inspiring than the birth of a child? Parents’ minds may swirl in that moment with thoughts and visions of their child’s future, oftentimes colored by unfulfilled dreams of their own. A woman whose calling had to be cut short when the duties of raising a family took center stage can imagine her newbo
daughter all grown up in a successful profession. A father, whose hopes of a college scholarship died on the high school football field with a career-ending injury, may see his son picking up the ball and running with it.
Sometimes the stars align and whether by nature or nurture a child’s aspirations and talents match those of one or both parents. For instance Joseph Kennedy Sr. was grooming his namesake to be President of the United States and it seemed destined to happen. When tragedy struck and the eldest son’s plane went down during World War II, another son was still able to soar to the heights it took to fulfill his father’s dream. In historical perspective it’s obvious that politics was the driving force behind all of the Kennedy children because of the values and drive instilled by their parents.
However as time marches on, it’s become less the norm for children to follow in the family business. Where working the family farm may have been expected during the agricultural age, the new age of information and technology means that most children will be in jobs their parents couldn’t even conceive of at the time of their birth. Although the human urge is strong to try to mold your progeny in the likeness of yourself—perhaps it is even evolutionary—now more than ever, it is vital for parents to take cues from their children, rather than imposing any template over them as to what they think their kids should grow up to be.
Of course we know that it is difficult to break old habits. At the turn of the 20th century, during the era of the belief that children should be seen and not heard, parenting books were still promoting breaking the will of the child, a practice for which Alice Miller coined the term “poisonous pedagogy.” Let the 21st century be the era of listening to the wisdom that comes out of the mouths of babes, because for those parents who have ears to hear, their kids can be allowed to follow their God-given talents, and live productive and happy lives.
We’re a nation who tends to display a sense of hero worship when it comes to sports heroes and movie stars. Hardly a week goes by when there isn’t some sort of competition crowning the winner of an awards show, talent show or sports finale. If we listen carefully we will notice that almost inevitably when the winners are approached to ask how they feel, they will wax poetically about a childhood scene in which they saw themselves on a stage or podium receiving the Oscar or Super Bowl ring or whatever the case may be.
In fact recently during the Olympics there was not one back-story aired by NBC that did not have the Olympian or his or her parent reporting about a childhood full of determination to be the best in the sport they are in. The decision to go into it was often made very early in life and the child never waivered. These parents were exemplary in allowing their children to take the lead and supporting them all the way to the podium.
Jamie Lyn Gray started shooting BB guns with her big brother at eight years old and now just won a gold medal in 3-Point Rifles in London in 2012. Her parents could have told her guns weren’t for girls, but they didn’t. Jonathon Horton’s parents could easily have punished him for climbing all over the shelves of a department store when he was four, but instead they saw something that he enjoyed doing and was obviously good at, and took him to a gym to learn gymnastics. He’s now been on the US Men’s Olympic Teams for the past two Olympic Games.
In my practice working with clients in their subconscious minds through the process of Alchemical Hypnotherapy, I often see disappointment, depression and sometimes even disease as adult clients attempt to fit into a world that they think they’re supposed to in order to please others. I see their eyes light up when they discuss something they thought they wanted to do as kids before their parents or others dissuaded them and they veered in another more “socially appropriate” direction.
We know that life-threatening diseases are sometimes a call from our Higher Self to get back to what is really important. How many cases have been reported where a patient comes back from a near-death experience and see clearly that they have missed an opportunity to do something really meaningful but they have been given another chance and now gladly take it? Once people are faced with their mortality they often come back after chemo or a remission and turn their life around 180 degrees.
Why wait? If you have a feeling that life is passing you by while you are spinning your wheels in the rat race, I have some simple advice for you. Think back to what you used to love doing when you were very small. Generally I find that it was somewhere around eight years old or younger that people go back to when they generate that exuberance around an old hobby or activity they loved doing. It could be as simple as growing flowers, leading a club, putting on little plays, building a tree house, cooking or painting.
An even better idea is to tune into that Inner Child inside of you and ask him or her how he or she is feeling about your life right now. It the answer is bored, it’s time to explore a possible change to something that would make your heart sing. In fact it could be singing or dancing or playing a musical instrument. If you’re not ready to give up your day job, then just take it up as a hobby, but do it!
Don’t wait and don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Life is too short and there’s no need to have an illness come to wake you up to your dream. You may not be awarded a medal for your decision, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still go for the gold in your life. You know what that is. It’s what your heart is telling you right now.