The beginner's mind.

• Author: Griffin-Wiesner, Jennifer
• Position: American Thought

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WE ARE intrigued by the Zen concept of a beginner's mind--one that still is open to the dance of imagination in the land of innocence and possibility. This dance is one that most adults must work hard to retain in a world that values the pursuit of concrete knowledge. Far too many of us forget our unique, childlike ability to ask "Why?" In our work with young people, we have observed that, around the time children enter fourth grade, adults begin to instill in them a focus of what to think, rather than how to think. As early as 1933, the conservationist and author Aldo Leopold put his finger on the beginnings of this trend when he wrote, "To build a better motor, we tap the uttermost powers of the human brain; to build a better countryside, we throw dice."

We consider a three-year-old's "Why?" to be charming and developmentally appropriate but, all too often, a 10-year-old's "Why?" is met with "That's just how it is." While adults continue creating social and environmental problems (Leopold's dice throwing), these same young people will be asked to solve those problems increasingly are incapable so ourselves.

Without the knowledge, skills, and competencies to deal with social and environmental issues creatively, no society has a viable context within which to greet the children it brings into the world--much less nurture them. If we want to change our world for the better, we must tap into the creative and positive energy of young people. Over and over again, we have seen that it is children who teach their parents and other elders about the components of sustainability--not the other way around. The middle school and high school years present a critical developmental opportunity because, well into adolescence and early adulthood, the neural connections of a young person's brain literally are being "hardwired" in terms of how youth think about themselves, and their relationships, choices, and decisions.

Whether an educator, youth worker, or other type of story weaver, anyone committed to giving young people a strong, powerful, positive voice--one that is robust and hopeful enough to rally kindred spirits of all ages--is unique and critical to the sustainability of our planet.

A world of hurry and worry

Adults are the trustees of young people's futures. Yet, we rarely ask our youth what they want us to leave them as our legacy, nor do we always listen when they try to share their ideas about real-life issues--beyond...