Today we again realise the incredible competence of our young people. This happened whilst working with a group of inspirational young people who volunteered themselves for a two day programme of sharing, reflection and self understanding.
Given the title 'Choose Change Become', the programme was organised by themselves, with a very little help from Campaign for Adventure, the World Spiritual University, The Wrekin Trust and MobexNE. It was run in Oxford at the Global Retreat Centre which had donated its quite astounding - in beauty and concept – facilities.
Now these 'young people' varied in age from 18 up to 35 and were 'young professionals' in their terms. For myself they were the usual creative, the confident and the enlightened young of our age, seeking more that our generation has been willing/capable of offering our youth. Indeed It is easily arguable we have given them a broken world which is theirs to fix, although there is still a little time for later-year adults to do something to help.
For instance, we could accept a 'whether proven or not' attitude to saving this planet. We could rescue the monetary system, and for that matter the banking, government (local and national), farming, justice, political and health (hospital, doctor, pharmaceutical and lifestyle) systems. We could do this by demonstrating some basic life values - which these young people exhibited in truckloads – such as integrity, trust, fore-thought, conscience and a demonstrable concern for all regardless of nationality, religion, appearance or difference.
Perhaps the main realisation was that our young people live in a culture of fear. A fear for their planet and their future - trusting adults, work, health, communities, adult common-sense, big business, nations, government, education systems – you name it and our young people are in fear of its capacity to realise their potential.
One 'exercise' they chose was to walk this world in supreme confidence. This allowed them the opportunity to shed their fears and show some indication of the true potential the world has for our young people. Another exercise was to spend time reflecting, from this place of confidence and not fear, who they are, where they want to go and how to get there. Using internal mirrors, accessing the reflective self (some might call this a form of 'meditation', although others would simply see it as sensibly taking stock of one's life) and looking at one's choices, possibilities and future actions for life.
Without any real detail - in this short piece - we have described some young people and their own actions to help themselves over their easily argued picture of a world and a humanity not doing what it could for itself. It also describes a process of Choose, Change, Become, created by themselves as they seek better and a way to make better happen for their (a?) future.
Our young people are amazing – 'Our hope for the future depends on them'.
