Graham Nash: Teach your parents well
“Teach your parents well.”-Graham Nash
Everyone remembers the title of the song about teaching our children well, but this part of the song often gets lost. Our children are our best teachers, but only if we are paying attention. And you don’t need to be a parent to learn from children. Just watch them play.
Children teach us the immense benefits of laughter, play and joy. Actually, they teach us what we already know at some level. As children we all knew these things. Sadly, most adults seem to have forgotten them.
Among the many things my kids have taught me (or reminded me of) are:
1. The value of a smile, a hug and unconditional love.
2. Laugh more.
3. Don’t worry. It serves no useful purpose.
4. Stop sweating the small stuff.
5. Lighten up. They often remind me of this when I’m acting like a typical grownup. In other words, when I’m visibly stressed out.
And finally, this gem from my daughter Alex at age 7, “I have a Pez dispenser and a canteen full of water. I’m ready to face the world.” Sheer profundity!
I know I have learned far more from my amazing daughters than I can express. For that I am eternally and tremendously grateful. Thank you, girls!
Whoever said children should be seen and not heard was a freakin’ idiot. Listen to the children as they possess wisdom beyond their years.
The Who proclaimed The Kids Are Alright, but they are much more than alright. They’re brilliant. At least until they become teenagers. Then all bets are off.
The first person who knows where the phrase “sheer profundity” came from wins a copy of my latest book, The New Idiot-Proof Guide to Customer Loyalty. Hint: Graham Nash was involved.
June 7th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I swear . . . the greatest bits of wisdom can be found on this page.
The next best thing to the wisdom of a child’s word is the zen of my dog.
I love Alex’s quote . . . brilliant! I’ll have to remember that the next time I go into some bloodletting meeting where everybody is taking themselves way too seriosly.
June 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Thanks, John…have fun in that bloodletting meeting.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:15 am
“Sheer profundity,” say’s Crosby about Nash. I can only finf refrences to David Crosby saying the term, but nothing specific about the first time he said it.
The phrase was used by Crosby when talking about Graham Nash’s song “Wind on the Water”.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Steve, it comes from the album Four Way Street, when Graham is introducing David and says: “I’m not sure what kind of mood David’s in or what to expect.” Crosby Replies: “Sheer Profundity”
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] “I have probably saved myself several million dollars in psychiatry bills because I talk to myself a lot. I think most songwriters do.”-Graham Nash [...]
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
[...] “I have probably saved myself several million dollars in psychiatry bills because I talk to myself a lot. I think most songwriters do.”-Graham Nash [...]
February 13th, 2009 at 11:35 am
[...] Graham Nash recently released Reflections, a compilation of 40 years dating back to his days in The Hollies and including a handful of unreleased tracks and a whole bunch of alternate versions. This is an absolutely delightful collection from a wonderful singer-songwriter. [...]
February 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
[...] Graham Nash recently released Reflections, a compilation of 40 years dating back to his days in The Hollies and including a handful of unreleased tracks and a whole bunch of alternate versions. This is an absolutely delightful collection from a wonderful singer-songwriter. [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
[...] “I have probably saved myself several million dollars in psychiatry bills because I talk to myself a lot. I think most songwriters do.”-Graham Nash [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
[...] “I have probably saved myself several million dollars in psychiatry bills because I talk to myself a lot. I think most songwriters do.”-Graham Nash [...]
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:47 am
…just for the sake of accuracy, the album title is/was “4 Way Street” — not ‘Four Way Street’…