Doing the Right Thing: PYL In-Flight (Apr 21, 2021)
By: Terri Mead
Tags: Pyl In Flight, Piloting Your Life, Gen Z, Genx, Revolution

Welcome Back My Off-Balance Passengers:

My latest vision board…created last week

We are living in a time where we have the opportunity to be a part of big changes, not just for ourselves, but for others.

We are living in a time when those of us with privilege need to make a choice between standing up for others (and what is right) or sitting comfortably in our privilege, accepting that we live in a society where not everyone is treated equally or seen as equal.

I’ve seen a number of social media posts that appear performative in nature.

I want to know what some of these people are doing to support the movement towards a more equal and just society in the US. It’s not easy to be a part of the change, especially if we may perceive that we might be ‘losing’ something in the process. It’s easier and more comfortable to sit back and let things be as they are.

This is the wrong choice. Full stop.

If you are sitting comfortably, I challenge you to ask yourself why and what you can be doing to be on the right side of this revolution.

I challenge you to take some action to support the changes that need to be made.

I challenge you to find your lane and take action.

Adam got into Chapman!

I struggle with balancing seeing the world as it is with being grateful for (and celebrating) the wins in our lives. This makes me feel off-balance and somewhat guilty when good things happen for me and my family and friends.

How does one celebrate without being tone deaf?

Yesterday Adam (my first born) found out that he was accepted into Chapman University for the fall. He’s still waiting to hear from LMU. He worked hard this semester at San Diego City College to get straight A’s and high praise from his professors after leaving San Diego State in December.

His college experience hasn’t been the most positive and I was afraid he wasn’t going to get into a university for the fall. I was afraid of what Adam might do, or not do, if he didn’t have college in the fall.

Adam suffers from anxiety and depression and I worry for his mental (and physical) health as a result.

This isn’t anything like a mother worrying about her teenage son because of the color of his skin. Adam is privileged, middle-class, white, cis-het, male. He has privileges that aren’t available to many young men his age. What’s difficult for him seems tame in comparison.

As parents of Gen Z kids, we aren’t focused exclusively on the success and happiness of our own children. We recognize that we have an obligation to raise kids to recognize their privilege and use it for the greater good.

Looks like while we have screwed up on many things with our kids, this one we might have gotten right.

As Finn looks at colleges to apply to in the fall, they are looking at what they can contribute to the world as well as what they can get from the experience.

Finn is looking at environmental science programs to focus on climate change. They are outraged by what we have done to our planet and what we continue to do to it. They are afraid. Rightly so.

Adam has discovered a love for teaching and helping kids not only with their education, but with their self confidence so they can succeed in the world (however they define that success). (Psstt…if your middle school or high school kid needs a tutor, drop him a line at adamtmead@gmail.com)

The only way he is going to be able to do this good work, is to get a college degree and then pursue advanced degrees. It’s not going to be easy for him but fortunately he is starting to make some good choices that will take him down that path with less resistance.

Prefrontal cortex development is key.

While I still worry for my kids, and our society, Adam and Finn (and their friends) bring me hope and I feel (cautiously) optimistic that we are moving towards something better than what we have today.

Not just for us. But for all.

YouTube: Terri Mead

YouTube: My Monkeys, My Circus

After having lunch with a friend last week, I decided to do a quick Mead Family update. I am having a bit of an existential crisis which I will be talking about in Saturday’s video (recorded but not yet released). Enjoy. P.S. Like the video. Add a comment. And subscribe to my channel. Please and thank you.

With much love and gratitude,

Terri

P.S. Take the controls and be the pilot in your own life. It’s a beautiful day to fly, and you are cleared for takeoff.

Song: You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive

terrihansonmead.com

Piloting Your Life (the book)

Terri Mead YouTube Channel

Piloting Your Life (the podcast)

Twitter: @PilotingLife

Instagram: @PilotingYourLife

Facebook Group: Piloting Your Life (the book)

Facebook Page: Piloting Your Life