What stories do our children grow up with? Who are their heroes?

In ancient times story telling was not just about remembering you tribe's history but also a way of teaching. Children were taught valuable lessons about life, valor and values.

Today we still tell stories to our children but what do they teach?

Little gils grow up with Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The poor damsel in distress is saved by the prince on the White horse and then they lived happy ever after. So Little girls are taught that they should be saved and not that they can save themselves and while they're at it, other people too. She has to wait for the prince and he is always the silent type-never says a word. The story never tells her that after the wedding he is going to speak, be demanding and have a strong opinion. Furthermore that happy every after takes considerable effort on both sides. In all these stories the little princess is beautiful and have very little other qualities. Take a women's magazine and have a look- 3/4 is about products to make you look more beautiful, younger, slimmer and how to dress according to fashion to catch your prince. Where are the female heroes that did it for themselves? Boudica the Queen of the Iceni that revolted against Roman occupation or Isabella that fought along side her husband Ferdinand to bring Spain under Roman Catholic control or Elizabeth I who rescued England from bankruptcy. These were women that did it for themselves and their country. They assisted in the rescued and was not known for the beauty but for their courage, cunning and the ability to make it in a male dominant society.

The boys are told about super heroes all with some kind of supernatural power. They use their power to rescue the damsel in distress but are not strong on conversation- so brawn over brains. Is that what we expect from the next generation of men? To fight for justice not to negotiate for it? Female magazines are very prone to male bashing but the questions is who taught them? Their mother's of course- she told the stories. Where are the Odysseus of ancient times that used brawn and brains to, even after 20 years, get back to his kingdom and his Queen. There is a guy that did not give up, did not have super powers but persisted until he reached his home again.

One of my childhood favorite stories was and still is "I am David" written by Anne Holm and it is about a small boy's journey to freedom. It is a story that I told my boys when they were small because I wanted them to learn from David. His values and his persistence to be free. David escapes from a concentration camp after WWII and he does not believe that violence solves anything. he is adamant that one should make up your own mind and follow what you believe in. Now, that is a hero with values that one can emulate.

According to " Alans Spot" the most popular children's stories in Korean are stories that were translated from the Talmud. The parents believe that is why the Jews are so smart and they might have a point there. Just look at the nobel prize winners - majority Jews.

So what stories are we telling our kids? Have you considered what you're teaching your child through storytelling?

Are we Creating an Instant Generation?

Ashton Kutcher just got the job in Two and Half men for allegedly $1 million dollar per episode. So, we think that a half hour entertainment warrants a cool $ 1 million pay check? A neurosurgeon removing a brain tumor in a child can ask $3796.00 for a 3 hour operation. Then he has the added benefit of possibly being sued if the parents do not like the outcome. Can I sue Ashton Kutcher if I do not like the episode?

A Neurosurgeon studies 12 years with at least 10 000 hours of experience. Are we teaching the next generation the value of hard work and service or rather instant riches. Are we teaching them that hard work and service to fellow human-beings will be punished? As they say in the classics:" No good deed will go unpunished" Are we advocating riches at any cost and with as little as possible effort?  Instant success? 

Nobody blinks an eye when a movie star is paid millions for a movie and yet we do not want to pay the person that teach our kids, keeps us safe or have the precarious job of saving our life. What does that say about our values? What does that teach the next generation? Take the easy road, the instant gratification, instant fame? 

Satisfaction and self esteem is developed through reaching difficult goals, overcoming obstacles. Is that why prozac has become such a frequently used drug? Can it be why so many stars are in rehab or being treated  for depression? Are we creating the instant depressive generation - shallow and with no values? 

Are we emotionally Bankrupt?

Are we so empty that we attempt to fill the void with bling, fast cars, expensive clothes and big mansions? 

Lets talk life and afterwards? I am not talking religion!! I have never met a person that believes that when this life ends it is "POOF" and gone. Even if you do not believe in a higher being then most people believe some part of us continue existing. If you are one of those that believe nothing survives and that this life is fleeting and then gone, then you should still realize that other people will follow where you have tread. So what are you leaving behind?  If you rent a holiday home, do you leave it filthy and in chaos for the next people to clean up?

As I said, I believe most people believe something continue after we die. So then it is 70 ( average age people live depending on what country you are privileged to live in) against eternity. So let us draw up a balance sheet. How much time do you spend on things and actions that relate to the 70 years on earth and how much time do you invest in the eternity part?

We spend so much time gathering stuff, making sure we keep up with the newest stars or celebrities only to know that it will only last one season, then we are going to start again. We are so short sighted ( one season short sighted) that we spend no time on what should last an eternity. The Buddhist say that we,  in Western society clutter our life's with noise and activities because we are too afraid to meet ourselves. Are we therefore going to take a stranger into eternity- one we have never met?

If it is true for me then it should be true for all people ( or according to some religions at least some people). How much time are you spending on your possible companions? It seems we are aiming for a stranger amongst strangers.

When are we going to realize we need to not only invest in retirement ( longer term vision) but also have the longest term vision and invest in ourselves and relationships that will continue forward? When does the journey inward start?