Last week we celebrated my twins’ twenty-third birthday. Finding out who they really are and what they feel called to do with their lives is foremost in the minds of my young adult son and daughter right now. As they test their own limits and set off into unfamiliar territory, they are getting nostalgic and seeking comfort in family and childhood pleasures. So although they often go for a month without talking to each other, my children spent a significant part of their birthday side by side -- swinging their arms in the air as they played golf and tennis on the Nintendo Wii. It was heartwarming to hear their celebratory whoops and laughter as they reverted to a childhood pastime – even if it was a video game!

Before the birthday dinner at a restaurant, our family went to see the Dreamworks film, Shrek the Third. The movie concluded with a song performed by Eddie Murphy, Thank You for Letting Me Be Myself Again. Donkey and Puss-in-Boots dance joyfully around the film credits as they sing the song. As I listened to it, I wondered about how easy it seems for young children to “be themselves.” Very young children seem to naturally connect with the joy and wonder in the world around them. Their true selves seem unaffected by the attitudes and opinions of others. They will laugh and play and ask for what they want without worrying about the impression they make. As children get older, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to “be themselves.” Peer pressure and parental expectations increase for them as they make their way in the world. Then the expectations of bosses and coworkers get added to the mix. When my children were younger, I turned to Wayne Dyer’s book What Do You Really Want for Your Child? to help me remember to value my children’s attempts to be true to themselves.

Right now, as my own children struggle to make meaning in their lives, I am recommending a book that might help them: Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. This small volume, written by a famous Quaker educator, makes a good graduation gift. But is also good for those of us at any age looking for ways to be ourselves again. The 109 pages of text are full of personal stories, humor, and a few provocative questions – all of which have helped me remain determined to keep trudging on the path toward personal fulfillment as I look for ways to serve others who might benefit from my gifts. Because I think people can be themselves again when they are living into their true vocation. At its best, it is a joyful process.