No need to label the young

Shane's Birthday Card

As we watch our children grow we have a tendency to daydream the future occupation they may choose by things they say, behaviors they express, or the major they pick in college. My beloved, Shane (my best friends son), found his sporting niche in high school in the cross country running team. He excelled as an athlete and a scholar, and was awarded a full athletic scholarship to college; between his speed and his brain, Shane proved time and again he belonged there. He began college right away declaring his degree as Pre-Med; once graduation day arrived the expectations of everyone were high, the questions began swirling, "What type of doctor will you be?" or "Are you going to be a sport's trainer or Orthopedic?", some people ask, "Are you going to pursue running while you study medicine?". To be fair these are valid questions. Little do they know that Shane experienced a terrible Achilles tendon injury, one that left his future in running a gapping unknown. Not only was his running career in limbo, his occupational choices were now plentiful and overwhelming. Taking a step back from the uncertainty of what the next part of his life held, Shane has found himself with a thriving vegetable garden, an acumen for bee-keeping, chicken raising and consulting on best practices in running. Some may label him a "hipster"; however, I wouldn't label him at all. 
In a world of readily accessible labels, it's easy to be quick to assign a person to a designated category. It dictates how we will treat them from that point on, it determines what we deem to be acceptable or unacceptable behavior from them. How backwards is that? We guide their behavior, and when they fail to fall into the idealized check-list list we have in our mind, then we write them off. Truth is, everyone is a combination of labels, there's no one definite label. Shane is Shane; he's talented, intelligent, witty, goofy, friendly, brave, loving, tall. He's a young man weeding through his options, waiting to find his calling; and he will find it. Let your children grow, let them make mistakes, let them find their happiness. The only label that's acceptable is the one you give them with every kiss, every hug, every praise: Loved.  

Card:
Stampin' Up "Hey Chick" set
Small Bee-hive embossing folder
Crushed Curry Paper
Basic Grey Paper
Whisper White Paper
Swirly Scribbles Thinlits
Twine