1: Despair
– One word that most of the feelings can be summed up to these days. If you
also think this way, believe me, you are not alone.
What else any rational
thinker may feel when the news is all about Racial discrimination, Right wing
politics gaining around the globe, terrorism, Drug use increasing, crime is
becoming more commonplace, random shooting in malls, offices, educational
institutions. Deforestation, pollution, Global warming while the industry and
politics doing little more than lip service, at best, to contain it.
People who held the fort
in last many decades, people who were respected for their ability to voice the
balanced opinion are getting lesser in number and weaker in voice. The voice of the moderate; the middle ground is losing ground. And for moderates like me, the world is losing hope.
Despair and
hopelessness, how ever you see it. And sometimes shame and anger at being a
part of the race that is responsible for largest damage to the environment.
“Is there any hope for
the future?” Many of us ask. And the answer mostly is
Hopelessness and Despair.
2: Learning
- Last week I was invited by my son to his school. The 7th
graders, my son included, were doing a “Passion project showcase”. My son has
told me last night, that it is a project where you research the topic you are
passionate about and present your research to the fellow students and the
visitors.
Lately I have not been
involved with my kids school as much as I should, due to my work commitments. However I am
glad that I made that early morning trip to school. These children, all in their preteen or
early teen years, filled with energy and passion in that room. Happy and
hopeful. Then I started moving from station to station to look at what each one
of them is passionate about. As I moved my eyes widened and my mind sparked
while my heart started sending blessings their way.
These children, the
future, they gave me hope, for myself and for the world.
They are passionate
about Music, Reading,
Books, Oceans, Global warming, Art,
Vedic science, LGBT rights,
Asian food, Free
North Korea, Marketing, Virtual Reality, Coaching
Baseball, Websites, Graffiti, Animal
Shelters, Dog care, Gun control to name a few.
I look at those boys and girls, the men and the
women of future. The generation that will inherit the world from our
generation. They were all passionate, and happy and bubbling with energy. The
faces and the body language oozed commitment to their cause. The room was full of
energy that each one of them was pulsating at. I could feel that energy in me. They were not only passionate about the topics but also had done deep research and could see how to fix, any problem in the domain they were passionate about. I
learned that they care, and that learning was so liberating.
3: Hope - That
learning was so liberating and so full of hope. I left that room with lot of
gratitude for the teachers who are challenging the future citizens to be passionate
about the causes that impact. Also; I had a lot respect and gratitude for the kids.
However unwise our generation might have been to focus on technology and economy
at the expense of humanity, values and the planet. But the damage our choices
have caused, certainly have shown the next generation what is more important. I am
hopeful that they will continue making the right choices. That they will not
fall prey to false security of technology and economy at the cost of planet and humanity.If at all; they will use and grow technology to heal wherever our generation has wounded.
You are the Hope my sons and their friends.
You are the Hope Passion Projects.
You are the Hope Schools and Teachers.
You are the Hope, FUTURE GENERATION!!!
