Cultivate an open attitude
My father, despite being born in 1925, when things were very different from today, is a remarkably open-minded man. And by and large, he’s passed that on to his children. At 87, he’s open to every type of person, most kinds of modern music, all kinds of exotic foods and new ideas too. It makes life so much more adventurous if you can say, ‘nope I’ve never tried a backwards flip off a diving board, but I’ll give it a go’ or ‘I’ve never heard of quargs – what’s that all about?’ ‘Brazilian food? Let’s give it a try!’ Even in geopolitics, an open mind comes in handy. Peter Oborne’s new book, ‘A Dangerous Delusion’ set out the positive case for Iran just at the moment when we’re being taught to think they’re a bunch of baddies. So I think with children, one of the great gifts (apart from the numero uno, self-confidence – if possible coupled with modesty) is an open attitude. Check out the facts as much as you can, and make your own mind up. It’ll stand them in good stead.
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