Some may think If it's not with music, drugs, and sex, you want find an inspired bone in today's youth, but that is the farthest thing from the truth.

Looking back at when I was a youth,and getting to know youth I have had the pleasure of working with,as well as my own children you learn that there is such potential within them.

Youth today are looking for a source, a trusted source of inspiration, knowledge, wisdom, guidance but most of all acceptance.

That is the very fragile thread, "acceptance", when we see our youths today with cropped spiky hair, Gothic motifs, pants down to there, piercing everywhere, we immediately categorize them, or worse yet throw them away as lost.

I will tell you this none are more lost than the ones who discard a very young , curious, maybe confused, but exceptionally, talented young soul...

And that's just it, isn't it, young, inexperienced, maybe disappointed, hurt, or in some ways bitter, but seeking acceptance and a way to fit in...

If you try to inspire by setting conditions like you need to change this about yourself, or that, look this way, or that, or express yourself this way or that, your setting yourself up for a failure and them as well.

I had the opportunity to work with many teenagers at a job I held a couple of years back, and I can say behind the eyes of the thick eye-lined, pink haired punk kid (just one of whom I had the pleasure of working with) was an incredibly talented , artistic , sensitive soul.

Her mother brought to me a book one day of her daughter's (age 16) most treasured writings a journal if you will, in it were photographs, writings & doodles all written and expressed and taken by her.
Her mother feared they were a bit morbid, true there was much pain there, but the pain was being expelled, expressed, and that energy channeled.

Her daughter found out I saw it, and eventually asked , Do you think I am crazy like my mom does?

My reply to her was no! I think you are extremely talented, write and don't ever stop writing, take pictures, express yourself, be you , who you are and what you feel this very moment, and in this space and time. Besides being therapeutic ( I know from experience) she was discovering a side of her most people would immediately blow off with first impressions, I can't help but love that shock value aspect of life , "so you thought,and judged me as one thing, and I turned out to be something completely different.")

This is basically our youths statement, "go ahead, judge me". and we do.

Her Mother of course didn't think she was crazy, she was just concerned.
But if we unconditionally accept our children, our youths guide them, love them , and allow them the expression, to go through those years of self discovery, we will find the inspiration, and the people they will become tomorrow will even inspire us.

Look deeper than the outside, look beyond, look inside find the source of that facade,and get to know the person within, this will inspire anyone, genuine acceptance.

Learn more about this author, Magie Woodward.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Today's youth and how to inspire them?
We want to hear your view. Write now!