During this summer’s live Spirituality for Youth class, I asked the students to choose one habit to set aside for a week. I am still waiting to hear the results from that after our summer break is over. However, in solidarity I told them that I would do the same practice, choosing to give up following the election cycle for a week. I have done so, and I wanted to share the insights this has brought me.
Since giving up my habit, I found that I didn’t miss it. I rather found more time and energy to play music, read stories with my son, and do other things which enlivened me. That is the essential point, to distinguish what enlivens from what drains us. Why do we do things that addict and overstimulate us, whether that be over-indulgence in media, eating certain unhealthy foods, or even hanging around people that aren’t the best influence on us? This is a puzzling but persistent human question middle schoolers are in a good position to start experimenting with as they learn the meaning of health of body, soul, and spirit.
What if our youth consciously begin developing the strength to step away from habits that may not be serving them (with some encouragement from their teachers and parents)? Although life is a long journey of growth during which we will many times miss the mark, think how much of a difference planting this awareness in them now can make over the many years of their precious lives.
-Mr. Andrea
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