Kids These Days…

I got to spend this past Saturday with my colleagues at the sunny, lively, and kid-filled St. Anthony Park Arts Festival. Cascade Therapy Group was a sponsor of the annual neighborhood event and had a table with a spin wheel and, of course, candy. One option on the wheel was to learn a new breathing technique. This is where I found myself in awe and nearly in tears throughout the day. Over and over again, young kids would spin the wheel and instead of learning a breathing technique from me, they were teaching me techniques I’d never learned before. 

These youngsters (yes I know I sound ancient) were so skilled at naming emotions, practicing ways to calm themselves, and engaging in conversation about tending to themselves. Witnessing this was energizing and hope-inducing. So many of us are not taught to sit with our feelings. In fact many of us learn that suppressing emotion is a sign of strength. “Buck up!” was a common refrain for many of us growing up. In adulthood we come to see how that holds us back from deeper connection with others and ourselves.

The kids I met on Saturday knew how to identify feelings, sit with them, and seek connection and care. In fact, it seemed utterly normal to them. Just another day feeling their feelings and talking about them. What a remarkable cultural shift! 

Kids these days. They’re pretty dang great! 

P.S. Want to know one of the breathing techniques I learned?

Five-Finger Breathing

Hold up your hand.

Using your pointer finger on the other hand, trace up your finger while you inhale.

Then trace down the other side of that finger as you exhale.

Continue this across your hand from your pinkie to your thumb, getting five nice breaths.