The Opposite of War is Creation

In the year and a half following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there were more babies born in this country than for many years prior. I found this statistic surprising when I learned it a few years ago. Logically, I would think that in war times or war torn countries, parents might think twice about bringing another child into the world, or that wombs would close up out of sheer terror or sadness. But it's quite the opposite as statistics show.

Most of those 2002 babies are now in second grade. If you go to an elementary school performance, you can see the difference in class sizes. There are just so many more second graders.

I always tell my yoga students that the babies that are coming now are more spiritually and mentally evolved than ever before--because these are the children that are going to usher in the age of peace. It is hard to think our children are more spiritually evolved that we are. Aren't we wise and experienced and here to teach them?

Yes. And Yes. We will teach them many things. But the most important thing that we may teach them is their divine birthright and to trust in their own inner wisdom. Even when they are in the throws of childhood--tantrums, mischief, etc--we must remember not to do anything to them that makes them forget who they are.

When my daughter was a new toddler, she would occasionally throw tantrums and I would just look at her and say, "I know. It's hard being a world that is not as advanced as you. I'm doing my best with the tools I have and I hope that you are patient with me."

The tantrums didn't end that second, but once she felt heard, she'd pick up her work of moving books and toys from room to room and there seemed to be a greater understanding between us.

I once heard a woman give a talk and she was talking about how rotten the world is getting, but she said that the world can't be all bad yet, because as long as babies are being born, that means that God still has some belief in the goodness and salvage-ability of it. For many years (pre-baby) I was skeptical of that line of reasoning. But now I totally believe it.

So in addition, it's also up to us as parents not to do anything to frighten them from becoming creators themselves. By this I mean mothers and fathers, but also artists. Many of you out there are afraid to call yourself artists. I know. I hear it all the time from bonefide professionals. Even many people that make a living at art don't feel like they can call themselves artists. Perhaps this is because of the myths we have created about what a real artist is. (Real artists wear hats, have cool parties, are drug addicts, are divorced, etc.) But the truth is, a real artist creates and a real artist speaks truth. This is why in every dictatorship, the first thing they do is get rid of all the artists.

The opposite of war is not peace. It is creation.

Dream. Love. Create. It's what love does.