Showing Teens Love and Respect for Exactly Who They Are

One of my favorite jobs in my life was being a Judo Sensei. I mean, I'm still a sensei, though I haven’t been actively teaching for quite a while.

There is a special relationship, in the martial arts, between a Sensei and their students. It is a position of power and influence, which must be used appropriately. And when it is good, it can be very good.

When I break it down, I think it really is about loving my students. It wasn’t enough that I was teaching them. I meant a lot to me that they knew that I loved them for who they were and the passion and personality that they brought to the mat.

And the really cool thing about this relationship to me was that they knew that I didn’t have to love them. And I believe that deep down they knew that if I did it was because there was something in them worth loving.

And I believe that deep down they knew that if I did it was because there was something in them worth loving.

It’s just not the same with parents. Kids can understand that their parents love them because they “have” to, but take constant criticism and correction as how they “really” feel.

But as an adult who has no obligation to love them, but does? That is something special.

If you really want to empower the teens in your life, show them love and respect for exactly who they are because, if you are not their parent, you have just a slightly better advantage of being able to get them to believe that they are lovable and worthy.

If you really want to empower the teens in your life, show them love and respect for exactly who they are because, if you are not their parent, you have just a slightly better advantage of being able to get them to believe that they are lovable and worthy.

I was a teenager who had special people like that. Especially through those years when I really could not see or feel my parents’ love.

Proud to be able to pay if forward.