“Freedom Lives in YOU,” the inspiration for our name (FLY) and the few words that can make a huge impact on how we see and engage with our world.
As we near Independence Day, the words “Freedom” and “Independence” are thrown around on radio, TV, movies and in conversation. But what is Freedom REALLY?
As Americans, we are told over and over again that the joy of our country is being a citizen of the Land of the Free. And, however, you may feel about our freedoms as a society, the idea of Freedom goes way beyond our religious, social and personal “beliefs.”
Yoga defines “Freedom” as ultimate liberation- shaking free from the things that bind us to the dissatisfaction, low self esteem, and limitations that keep us from living our gifts. At FLY, we aim to “liberate” our students from impaired thinking about who they are and what they have to offer by gifting them tools of self- understanding and perspective taking.
For me, Freedom goes hand in hand with Choice. When we teach our kids HOW to choose, we empower them with our trust and trust in them selves. If we choose something only because it’s what everyone is doing, or we regret our choice wondering if that was the right way to go, we are setting into motion patterns that lead to very low self worth, indecisive behavior, and inability to create stable patterns in the future.
So on this Independence Day, choose to nurture the independence of your able and gifted child. Allow them to choose – (hint * give two options to save the headaches). Always honor their choices, and help them honor other’s. “Jimmy likes mustard? Awesome! Great choice for Jimmy! You don’t? You don’t have to have it- you get to choose, too. And no one choice is better than another!”
Simplistic as it may be… this will truly perpetuate our next generation into the “Land of the Free.”