Cultivating Young Minds (Even in An Old Head)

A few posts back I wrote about a Monopoly massacre I suffered at the hand and mind of my son Aden (9 years old). My wife reminded me that I should have also learned something else about cultivating young minds and supporting their growth from that incident.

His play was masterful. More important was his display of persistence and confidence. Especially faced with some adversity. Without both, he’d folded early.

None of us get anywhere without these two elements.

This is especially true for young minds just getting started. And that mind could be in an old head. At some point in our lives, even middle age as I am now at 46, we all find ourselves beginning something or trying something not attempted by us (NEW).

This NEW likely will not go well initially. Key is to persist and decide you will improve at it, and maintain your confidence.

Supporting those pursuing something new is also vital for them and our own growth as human. Certainly as one of his parents, it’s my responsibility to Aden. And it’s fun for me. I like watching him give it a go, and like it more to see him pushing forward and working to improve. I love seeing the confidence he puts into pushing forward and what also builds up in him to use elsewhere.

I enjoy this with others who are not my children. In my current endeavor I don’t have a team of “employees”. But I do have project partners, professional friends I am cheering for, and every now and again even a competitor I like that I am willing to help out. I get joy from helping them stay on point and persist with confidence. When it fades I also enjoy being a wind at their back to help them back on course.