The things we can’t pass on to our children.
Finding purpose is a deeply personal pursuit.
There are lots of things our children can inherit from us; biology, personality and tangible assets. But one thing we cannot pass to our children is a deep internal sense of purpose.
Discovering and understanding the meaning and purpose of life, existence, conscience, and eternity will always be a deeply individual and personal one. We can, and should walk the path ourselves and tell our children how to start walking it themselves; but they must do it themselves.
Technology is one of the great roadblocks that prevents too many, especially our children, from thinking, exploring and discovering. There are no comfortable answers to the deeply personal questions of the soul — but avoiding them seems to cause tremendous harm.
It is good to reflect and meditate on one’s impermanence or insignificance in the world. Doing so often evokes gratitude, humility and perspective; all of which are staples of a good life.
Too many of our rising generation are so distracted or addicted to screens that they find little time to be alone with themselves.
As fathers we play a pivotal part in helping our children create the space and time to be alone with themselves so that their minds wander toward meaning, purpose, enlightenment.
Matthew
Founder, DADS™— Dads Against Devices™
Our pledge.
I will lead my family — by example and instruction — to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, and nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith. To protect my family, I will not allow social media or unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted access to screens, gaming, or the internet in my home, nor will I provide personal smartphones to my children until they demonstrate the maturity to use them responsibly.