If Life Could Begin Again
“Our potential is far greater than we realize. If we could truly see this, perhaps we’d never settle for less.” — The Age of Anxiety
For this a reader Family Bookstore, I’ve chosen books that explore alternative perspectives on education. In our previous “Inner Life Bookstore,” I introduced the profound wisdom of Sadhguru. I especially loved how he described birthdays—not just as dates of birth, but as moments when life touches you. Birth, he says, happens because life reaches out to meet you. And that moment should be the beginning of a lifelong celebration.
Education, then, isn’t the domain of parents or schools alone. It begins at birth and continues as we engage with ourselves and the world. In truth, this bookstore speaks more to adults. Because when adults change, the young lives around them naturally shift too.
In German, the word “Erzieher”—educator—means “one who uplifts, who guides.” In Latin, educare means “to draw out or awaken.” Education is not about stuffing facts into already burdened minds; it’s about drawing forth the innate abilities to understand and to live.
Children of Gen Z and beyond are digital natives. Their connection to the online world is often driven by both push and pull. The pull comes from its easy access and endless connections; the push may be the result of frustration and pressure within traditional education systems. For many, only the virtual world offers a sense of freedom.
But what if the real world gave them that same space to explore who they are and become themselves?
What if we—the adults—had grown up in such a world? Where would we be now, and how differently might we live?
Life is a journey. We’re all at different stages of this great trip. But if we could start again, would we travel differently? Would we step forward with hesitation, just to confirm what we already know—or would we walk playfully, free of expectations, fully embracing each moment and everything it reveals?
At the root of it all is education. How we teach the next generation—and ourselves—shapes the quality of our lives and our society. Sadhguru said, “There are no good people or bad people—only joyful ones and suffering ones. Everyone swings between the two. If we create a joyful atmosphere, people show their best selves. If we create a painful one, even good people can behave badly.”
If we want a safer society, we must begin with education—by healing suffering hearts. I don’t know whether this future is truly within reach, but I hope more readers will join us. Let’s reflect, and take steps together.
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— Hui-Chen Li, Curator of a reader
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Time: "a reader Parenting Bookstore": March 1 - end of April, 2024
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