The more places and experiences young people can experience and feel comfortable in- the better. Why not have them experience: the opera, a dive bar, back-packing, an expensive restaurant, a hockey game, a country club, a middle-eastern restaurant, the subway, a rodeo, Nascar, a wine list, other countries, a Native American Pow-wow, golf, a construction site, a blue-grass festival, an art museum, skiing, and a Bar Mitzvah. And while your there, take the time to show them how those experiences work. Help them find something about that experience that they can enjoy and relate to.

Exposure to different things may be the greatest gift you can give a young person.

And… as they get older, why not expose them to variety of faiths and followers: Catholics, Buddhists, Methodists, Universal Unitarians, Hindus, Jews, Pagans, Atheists, Mormons, Baptists, and Muslims.

Do you trust them to make up their own mind and find what works for them?

That’s expensive you say… yes.  That takes a lot of time… uh huh. And some of that stuff, you have not experienced yourself and is way out of your comfort zone… I know.

Do you want their world to be large or small?

When they get invited to meet their boyfriend/girlfriend’s family at the country club, do you want them to feel poised and comfortable- or frightened and uneasy? Do they have the experience and skills to interact in that world. Do they know which fork to use?

Or do you want to keep them sheltered- so they are frightened as soon as they step outside of your social familiar? Do you want them to go wild when they leave home and have to use alcohol and substances to get beyond their fear and inhibition in order to explore the world. Or worse yet, do you want them to stay in their family’s little world?

Do you want them to find themselves- or do you want them to be like you?

About author:

Michael Hoffman’s passion is guiding people to create the life that they want. The demands of our current culture often take people away from their dreams and the individual expression of their being. Michael believes people have left behind some essential elements of being human including connecting with and genuinely caring about each other.As a transformational speaker, Michael conducts “Metamorphosis” retreats, classes, and individual and couples sessions to allow people to reclaim the life they want. These venues allow people to see the possibilities and inroads available to them. Participants are walked through their entire change process or metamorphosis into their desired life. The experiential work draws primarily on Zen thought, Native American ceremony, rites-of-passage, personal belief systems, and Jungian dream-work and symbolism.Michael also maintains a “meta blog” to provide knowledge, skills and awareness for unfolding your new life. He is compiling his knowledge of emotional and spiritual development into books to further assist people in creating a more harmonious and cooperative way of life.Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1987 and Master of Social Work in 1996. Michael is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) in the state of Washington. In addition to his formal education, Michael studied and apprenticed with a Zen Master and spiritual teacher for 22 years to learn how to affect change with people. He has worked with people professionally since 1986- mostly as a psychotherapist.Michael currently resides in Spokane, Washington.

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