Fool's hill

Fool's hill

No, this is not a place in Lander Wyoming. When I was growing up my grandmother Gee used to talk about trying to get adolescents over Fool's Hill. This was a common expression at that time.  We do not hear it so much anymore.

This refers to the experience of going through the process of maturation in our thoughts and feelings and understanding of life and how we approach it. 

Some individuals go through a rather difficult time as they mature and go through the teenage years. Many of them want to push the boundaries and exert their independence.

Historically this has been the time when many lose their association with the church and its teachings. This is the time when most of the runaways from the family occur. Thus it takes time and patience on the part of the parent to understand what is going on and to try to gently persuade the child that self-destructive behavior will only bring pain and sorrow. 

In medicine we call this myopia. Short-sightedness, or myopia, is a very common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. Myopia in this sense doesn't refer to the eye, but to the brain and emotional makeup of the individual.  If you can’t see the consequences of your decisions, then you are not able to make them wisely.

I recently found on the Internet a little explanation of this. I will give you the link here. 

There is a little book that was written by a medical school classmate of mine.  It is entitled “From Play Pens To Proving Grounds”.  In it he describes the process of helping children make proper choices.  It fits into the principles of teaching correct principles and then letting people govern themselves and persuasion, long suffering, gentleness and meekness and love unfeigned.  Then comes reproof when moved upon by the Holy Ghost and afterwards showing forth an increase of love.  

When Elder Neal A. Maxwell came to our stake conference in Riverton, he taught that we should give deserved, specific praise.  No one likes to be told all the time about how in error your actions are.  Every one would like to have an “atta boy” on a regular basis.  This means that just telling someone that they are doing well is not enough.  They need to know that someone noticed that they did specifically well on a specific task.  He said that he received the standard typewritten release letter from his mission president, but that the mission president hand wrote a few lines at the bottom and that he had been going on those comments for years. 

Every one needs encouragement to get over Fool’s Hill.  We all make mistakes and have to realize that we cannot escape the consequences of our choices.  

Now my grandchildren, be wise! Make wise choices so that climbing Fool”s Hill will not be such a difficult task.  

What more can I say?

Love,

Grandpa