My son steered clear of the school and church route, and even the college route for many years. Now he has taken college to help ignite his new piloting passion, and has used it to his benefit, without going in debt or compromising his ideals.
My daughter got sooooo involved with church I just wanted to throw up everyday. At least 5 days a week she was doing something with the youthgroup, going on mission trips, Jesus camps, bible studies and lots of play dates. She got so immersed and came out of her own accord more empowered, aware and competent than anything I could have ever taught her. She has an incredible life of her choosing and is grateful everyday for her choice to be free.
I do know of @canadian-coconut. I don't seem to get around Steemit as much as I'd like. Keeping up with the Collaborative Art Journey, the @gardenofeden and my close peeps here, and joining in the community building initiatives has been rewarding enough. I'd like to spend more time with you both, however, so will make more of a point to reach out your way. I think I'll send you a message on SteemitChat to throw around a bit of possibility with you. So grateful for our connection! <3
That's actually great to hear about your son. I've been playing with the idea that since they have made it so difficult not to be a part of the system, as long as you're aware of what it is, you may as well as use certain aspects of it. Staying out of debt slavery is important, beyond that? I went as far as I could, threw out my driver's license (all of my documents) at one point even, but found that while I could get along perfectly fine without these things, it would be incredibly limiting for my kids. So I play the game when I absolutely have to, knowing that's what it is. And hoping one day enough people will recognize it, they'll stop being a part of a script someone else wrote and start writing their own :)
That church thing, it's very cult like isn't it? It's so strange to look back on it now and realize that's what I was a part of, particularly since they are the first to call anything outside of whatever doctrines they're subscribing to a cult. And I feel a kinship with your daughter, because once I broke free of it, empowered might not even be a strong enough word. Though this was something that had tentacles in every aspect of my life from infancy until my twenties. To be honest, when I initially forced myself to say, out loud, that I no longer believed, my world tilted on its axis. It was so critical to my foundation that I had to build a new one, fortunately I had something salvageable to start with, love, and then I realized that's all I needed it to be. Just not the love of some grey beard in the sky and his sinless son, but the love that comes from within.
I understand, keeping up with the connections I've already made here does make it difficult to branch out even more. I would love to hear your possibility! Big, big hugs to you my beautiful friend!
My son didn't go to college when all of his friends did. He waited until his mid-twenties to go when he actually decided for himself that it was a path that would benefit him. It's difficult to be a pilot without certification, though even that used to be the norm years and years back. Taking advantage of those parts we agree with could hold some great value, it is mostly a matter of opting out of those things we do not so we can create something new and more life-giving to all. I too hope that people will be brave enough one day to stand up and be heard--even listening to themselves would start the ball rolling!
My daughter had a big up on you as she was not indoctrinated from birth and her whole life only wrapped around it when she herself chose it to be. She wasn't immersed at home in that culture and we lived another perspective which always gave her a way out. I can't even imagine living the religious life--gratefully we all get to make our own choices at some point in life. Good for you for finding your way out, upgrading your perspective and opening to infinite possibilities.
Receiving those big, big hugs with great joy and sending them back to you a bazillion fold. So blessed are we! <3