3.6.10 // THE POWER OF YOUTH

"We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends." --Mary McLeod Bethune

It's so hard to blow bubbles with sugar free gum. Too bad we aren't born with unlimited baby teeth to chew sugary treats with.

SHIRT // it was my mom's.. she's a big bruce fan

CARDIGAN // thrifted

SKIRT // thrifted

TIGHTS // target

SHOES // target

HAT // gifted

SUNGLASSES // thrifted

CAT // meow

I thought that a Bruce Springsteen shirt would be appropriate for post about youth because so many of The Boss' songs are about the struggles and dreams of a young man. This shirt actually belonged to my mom back in the 80s. She got it at a concert that she went to with my dad in a life before my existence.

I've been thinking about the power of youth for a while now.. maybe a year or so. It's a funny thing. Young people have so much energy and are so eager to produce meaningful lives, but they don't always know how. We're sort of like dodo birds in that way - we have these wings, but don't know how to fly.

I often ask myself what types of stories I'll have to tell my grandchildren someday. Will they be mildly interesting and full of what-ifs or will they be extraordinary and challenging.. the stuff that adventures are made of. I'm aiming for the latter. I think that all young people hope to live lives that stand out from the crowd, but still not everyone does. For those young people who do use their power for good, there is a secret that I've heard of. It's been passed down from people who were once young. They couldn't have possibly learned it as young people.. it's wisdom that can only be gathered in hindsight. It's seen in history books in the form of sit-ins and protests and rallies and it is this:

--Pearl Sydenstricker Buck

So, here's the question I keep asking myself.. What will you do with your power? I think I'll see if this dodo bird can fly.