Old school in a new way…

Nov 2nd, 2011No Comments

I have always been drawn to people that are old school. They stand for something and have a strong sense of self and values. Our culture has progressed in a way that we have left some essential old school values behind- honesty, integrity, sense of community, etc. Old school people can help us reclaim these qualities.

That being said, old school people can be a bit… how should I say this… set in their ways. Some have had a difficult time accepting that the world has changed. They still see their old school qualities being applied in the same way as before the world changed. They can’t understand why the kids these days won’t “fly right.”

And then we have younger, progressive, innovative people. They are essential in us solving our problems and moving forward. They are creative. They understand technology. We desperately need them as well. They are our future. Yet sometimes they can be a bit… flighty.

What if we took some of those old school qualities and applied them in a totally new way to today’s world? Honesty and integrity needs to reformat itself in today’s world. It is not as cut and dry as it once was. Things are much more complex. Sense of community is not going to happen the way it did in the 1950′s or 60′s. The world is totally different now.

So my challenge for us is for the old school and the innovative to come together- inside of ourselves and between each other. I envision a grandparent teaching their grandchild how to stand for something. And then listening and exploring with the grandchild about how they could stand for something in our world today. Working together.

After that we could have a barn raising. Or maybe a solar panel raising.

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About author:

Michael Hoffman’s passion is guiding people to connect with their natural gifts. He believes that we all have innate gifts that hugely benefit others and the world when we offer them. The purest example of these gifts is the Native American concept of medicine or the gift you offer your people. Michael defines your medicine or gift as the natural effect you have on other people when your heart is open. Unfortunately, the demands of our current culture to comply and fit in often distract people away from their inherent gifts and the natural expression of their being. Michael believes many of us have forgotten our dreams and what we are about. This sadly results in a loss of purpose, passion, and vitality. As an innate gift specialist, Michael offers retreats, classes, and individual sessions to allow people to reclaim their natural gifts. These venues allow people to identify, awaken, and offer their gifts. This experiential work incorporates Zen thought, Native American ceremony, rites-of-passage, and releasing limiting belief systems. Michael also maintains his meta blog to provide knowledge, skills, and awareness for unfolding your natural gifts. He is currently compiling this knowledge and research into a college class and book. Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1987 and Master of Social Work in 1996. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In addition to his formal education, Michael studied and apprenticed with a Zen Master and spiritual teacher for 22 years to learn how to guide people to understand themselves. He has worked with people professionally since 1986 as a psychotherapist and teacher. Michael currently resides in Oceanside, California.

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