Small town Maui. A happier place there never was.

Small town Maui. A happier place there never was.

I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Maui Academy of Performing Arts’ Spring Extravaganza, a warm celebration of our local keiki having fun while being – perhaps unawares – physically active. It was a beautiful display full of character-building self-satisfaction woven of more than a handful of tirelessly perfected moves. Notwithstanding all the hours of preparation, what greater joy can there be than to be lost in the moment, celebrating the uninhibited spirit that far too many of us are taught to squelch so we can fit society’s norms?

You may know that I’m a gymnastics coach. It’s my nature to get lost in time when helping to ignite the exploration process with any athlete of level, shooting for exiting that same process on Cloud Nine. There’s nothing quite like being in the presence of a young soul who, through movement of the body, experiences an epiphany. Awash in the sheer joy of physical accomplishment, the young person begins to want more of this self-euphoric feeling. As adults who care about the physical and mental well-being of our youth, it’s our mandate to be purposeful and relentless about placing directly in their paths these opportunities for healthy physical, mental, and emotional growth- these opportunities for euphoria.

Here’s an idea you can try at home that not only provides opportunities for physical, mental, and emotional growth, it builds a bonding experience between you and your child.

Don your best 80s gear, pull out Michael Jackson’s Thriller video and bust a move. You know the dance. Your kids probably know it too. Your kids may think you’ve gone crazy. So be it! What better way to get the family involved in a time of joyful, memorable movement? We’ve all seen Beyonce’s infectious “Single Ladies.” C’mon Dads, admit that you know the moves. Have enough guts to perform it with your little ones, complete in the black leotard like Justin Timberlake so hilariously did on Saturday Night Live. You may be igniting a dance career that will keep your young ones so occupied with healthy things that unhealthy things simply aren’t considerations.

If for no other reason, take the chance to do silly, fun, uninhibited things with your youth to keep them occupied with healthier choices. You’ll be planting living seeds that, by definition, must grow. Control the direction of that growth toward lifelong healthiness, toward keeping as many hours as possible occupied with something that’s loved on an uninhibited, euphoric level. Constantly monitoring and being involved in the growth toward what your child’s nature craves is a time-consuming process whose rewards far outweigh the risks of not taking that first chance.

Find what they love. Love it with them. Nurture their love for their activity. Build a physically, mentally, and emotionally strong child who’ll become physically, mentally, and emotionally strong adult who will bequeath the healthy cycle to their own children. Generations down the road, they’ll be saying, “Small town Maui. A happier place there never was.”