Discovering Your Path: A Heartfelt Guide for Grandchildren

Mason Hoge’s farewell game at OWU

Smartphones, social media, video games, and TV are all distractions for even the littlest of kids today. Pressures from adults on issues such as climate change, sexual identity, and DEI affect youngsters' mental health.  In a world full of uncertainty, many children find themselves lost, without guidance or direction. As grandparents, we are not just bystanders in this journey but active participants. We have the power to assist them in finding their path, influence their dreams, and guide them toward a sense of fulfillment. But how do you help them discover their dreams? Let's explore this journey of self-discovery and how to navigate it with your grandchildren.

Let's delve into the concept of 'purpose' and its profound significance. Life is an exhilarating adventure, and one of the most transformative quests they will embark on is discovering their dreams. Their dreams are not just whims but a compass that guides them towards a fulfilling and meaningful life, their purpose. These are not just big concepts but the keys to unlocking their potential, and we can help them understand and embrace them.

What is Purpose?

Your purpose is the reason you feel excited to wake up in the morning. It’s what makes you feel alive and gives your life direction. It can be something you're passionate about, a talent you want to share with the world, or a cause you care deeply about.

When our youngest son was little, he was captivated by soccer. It was more than just a game to him; it was his passion, his joy, and his purpose. If he wasn’t playing soccer, he was practicing soccer. If he wasn’t practicing it, he was playing soccer video games or watching his favorite team, Manchester United. During his youth, he played for the regional team and traveled to Europe, where he visited his dream team's stadium. As he got older, he won state and national championships. Although he never dreamed of playing professionally, he achieved his goals, and that's what finding your purpose is all about.

Why Finding Your Purpose is Important

Direction: Having a purpose helps you know where you want to go and what steps to take.

Motivation: It gives you a reason to keep going, even when things get tough.

Happiness: Doing things that matter to you brings joy and satisfaction.

Impact: Your purpose often involves helping others, which can improve the world.

Our son's soccer experience has shaped him as an adult. He learned teamwork, leadership, discipline, respect, fair play, and resilience. He experienced it the hard way, with fair play and resilience by an injury. He was targeted by the other team to be taken out of the game. And within a moment of an illegal tackle in the box, his soccer was over. As he waved to the fans from the ambulance, he waved goodbye to soccer.

Did the referees red-card the tackle? No, there was no call, just a referee waving to “play on.” Was that fair? Well, life isn’t fair; lesson learned. Instead, he showed resilience and recovered from a severe injury, not missing school work and graduating from college, leading to his next phase of life. He gathered his experiences with his first sense of purpose to move to the next level of life.

Soccer's impact on his life also impacted his teammates, by showing sportsmanship and respect. Living his dreams with integrity, passion, and love of the game made all the difference.

Steps to Discovering Your Purpose

Use the following exercise with your grandkids:

Reflect on What You Love: Consider what activities make you lose track of time. Do you love drawing, playing sports, reading, or helping others? These activities can give you clues about your purpose.

Try New Things: Don’t be afraid to explore and experiment. Join clubs, try new hobbies or volunteer. Sometimes, you find your purpose by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Listen to Your Heart: Pay attention to what feels right to you. Your inner voice can guide you towards what truly matters to you.

Talk to Others: Share your thoughts with family, friends, and teachers. They can offer insights and see things about you that you might not notice.

Set Goals: Once you have an idea of your purpose, set small goals to move towards it. This can give you a sense of direction and achievement.

Stay Open-Minded: Remember, your purpose might change as you grow. Be open to new experiences and allow your purpose to evolve.

As a grandparent, you can ask these questions with your grandkids to help them brainstorm what might be important to them. Be patient; they might not know right away, and several dreams might unfold over time. Although our son discovered early on his dream of soccer, his next dream wasn’t so clear.

Because sports, not just soccer, is his passion, it was natural for him to choose a major in Sports Management. Although his interest was there, once he got into the world of sports as a business, he knew it wasn’t his purpose. After some challenging positions on the business side of soccer and football, he knew he had to pivot. Although his whole life was sports, returning to school for an MBA was his new goal. Because of an open mind and his family's support, he achieved his next stage in life.

Mason’s MBA graduation from Case Western

Living Your Purpose

Talk about the following ideas with your grandkids on living their dreams:

Align Your Actions: Make sure your daily activities match your purpose. If you love helping others, find ways to volunteer or support friends.

Embrace Challenges: Don’t be afraid of obstacles. They are opportunities to learn and grow stronger in your purpose.

Practice Gratitude: Be thankful for the progress you make. Celebrating small achievements can keep you motivated.

Connect with Supportive People: Surround yourself with people encouraging and inspiring you. They can help you stay on track.

Give Back: Part of finding your purpose is about making a difference. Look for ways to contribute to your community or support causes you care about.

One of our son's ways of giving back combined his love for soccer with his gratitude for his athleticism. He has always been passionate about helping special needs children. He has coached Top Soccer kids with Down syndrome since he was little. The experience of working with kids who didn’t have an athletic gift but lived with joy and happiness in their hearts made an impact on his life; always be grateful.

Conclusion

Helping your grandchildren find their purpose is an exciting journey that can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. It's about helping them discover what makes them happy, use their unique talents, and make a positive impact on the world. Remember, their purpose doesn't have to be something big or grand—it just needs to be meaningful to them.