A Little Something Worth Clarifying.

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“Everybody's got the potential for great good and great wrong in them, but it's the choices we make that define who we really are.” ― Charles de Lint

 
I wrote and article just recently on elephant journal - one that highlighted Nipun Mehta's most wonderful commencement speech and his response to the Time Magazine article "Me, Me, Me" generation. 

You can read the article right here.

As I have been facing a bit of criticism for my views, I wanted to address these here. First and foremost, I believe in each child's potential - I *see* potential in every single face that greets me. 

I see potential and hope in each day. 

That doesn't mean that I am blind to this worlds woes, rather it means—I choose to face them in a uniquely different way. I am this way, in part because of my experiences—which have most carefully, and humbly taught me the lesson of true compassion. And likewise, because...in seeing hope and potential...I am also able to see that there is always another way. 

As well, I mentioned in my article that my son would be changing out his kid clothes for that of a military uniform. Why did I include this statement as well as the other examples? Because, I wanted to show that in addition to data...there is always context. This article failed (in my opinion) to show the full context of our children. 

Don't simply state the your statistics regarding the prevalence of social media—unless you are also willing to share statistics on compassion. 

I am so very proud of my son—and it truly breaks my heart to see any comments that would diminish the brilliance and selflessness of his own heart. 

Also, I do believe very strongly—that you most certainly can be a soldier and still have the capacity to bring this world closer to peace and compassion. I, for one, am that example.

I hope that my words help to shed a little more light on my last article—and if it offended *any* of you, I do offer my most sincere apologies. 

But, I won't ever change my opinion—as I will always see this world's potential. 

Because, this is my choice, until my last dying day...