Innocent Joy: Being a Child Again

 

Remember when we were kids, and the world was bright and full of hope?

When each day was a new adventure, and everything that we imagined (fire-breathing dragons, giant castles, space ships made of cardboard boxes, stuffed animals that came alive) was indeed our reality?

When we didn't have all these adult worries, and our responsibilities included: PLAY, finishing our snacks during snacktime, sharing toys, and finding the shovel in the sandbox? :)

When everything was possible? (and your inner critic didn't exist?)

What if we return to that innocent joy of being a child again?

Sometimes as adults, we get bogged down in the details and complexities of everyday life. As kids, life was simple. What flavor of ice cream do you want today? ;) But as we've grown older, along came responsibilities, knowledge, and experience. Surely, that's part of the magic of life--to grow and learn...and pass that on to our future generations. However, as adults we sometimes tend to overthink and overcomplicate things with fears that we've acquired over the years.

Little inner voices that say: What if they don't like me? I'm not good enough to do XYZ. What if I fail? What if I don't find romantic love again?

You know what my 5-year old self would say to that? You are awesome! Anything is possible! You'll live happily ever after with a true Prince!



So, let's bring out that wise 5-year old again. When the world seems to spin too quickly, and we get too much into our own adult heads, let's take a time-out and return to the innocent joy of being a child again.

Some Inspiration to Bring Out Your Inner Child:

• "Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do."  -Jean de la Bruyere
• "Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called "All the Things That Could Go Wrong."- Marianne Williamson
• "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."-George Bernard Shaw 
• "All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas layin' in the sun, talking about the things they Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda done...but all those Woulda-Coulda-Shoulads all ran away and hid from one little Did." -Shel Siverstein
• "Adults are obsolete children." -Dr.Seuss
• "Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." - Heraclitus
• "Children ask better questions than adults.  "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far more likely to elicit a cheerful response than "Where's your manuscript?" Why haven't you called?" and "Who's your lawyer?"  -Fran Lebowitz

Play. Get a little dirty. Don't worry, be happy. Admire the world in innocent wonder and awe. :)