I Look Back On My

What If You Love Knowledge For Its Own Sake, Not Necessarily As A Blueprint To Action? What If You Wish There Were More, Not Fewer Reflective Types In The World?

Ask Your Child For Information In A Gentle, Nonjudgmental Way, With Specific, Clear Questions. Instead Of “how Was Your Day?” Try “what Did You Do In Math Class Today?” Instead Of “do You Like Your Teacher?” Ask “what Do You Like About Your Teacher?” Or “what Do You Not Like So Much?” Let Her Take Her Time To Answer. Try To Avoid Asking, In The Overly Bright Voice Of Parents Everywhere, “did You Have Fun In School Today?!” She’ll Sense How Important It Is That The Answer Be Yes.

We Often Marvel At How Introverted, Geeky, Kid 'blossom' Into Secure And Happy Adults. We Liken It To A Metamorphosis. However, Maybe It's Not The Children Who Change But Their Environments. As Adults They Get To Select The Careers, Spouses, And Social Circles That Suit Them. They Don't Have To Live In Whatever Culture They'er Plunked Into.

Spend Your Free Time The Way You Like, Not The Way You Think You're Supposed To. Stay Home On New Year's Eve If That's What Makes You Happy. Skip The Committee Meeting. Cross The Street To Avoid Making Aimless Chitchat With Random Acquaintances. Read. Cook. Run. Write A Story. Make A Deal With Yourself That You'll Attend A Set Number Of Social Events In Exchange For Not Feeling Guilty When You Beg Off.

The Same Person Who Would Never Raise His Hand In A Lecture Hall Of Two Hundred People Might Blog To Two Thousand, Or Two Million, Without Thinking Twice. The Same Person Who Finds It Difficult To Introduce Himself To Strangers Might Establish A Presence Online And Then Extend These Relationships Into The Real World.