It is never too late to enjoy your childhood

I have heard many people say that they were robbed from their childhood and that they regret not having a more joy-fill youth.  I am here to tell you that it is never too late to recapture your childhood and feel young again if only in spirit.  All it takes is you reshaping your thinking by changing your perception of yourself and your life. 

Just because you are an adult, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy childlike experiences.  I believe we all crave them.  I know that I sometimes think that I can do a lot more than my body is willing to undertake, yet it doesn’t stop me from thinking, trying and fantasizing. 

One thing that works for me is spending time with my grandchildren.  I have six and they are of various ages, which is both interesting and intriguing for me to examine.  I find that when I am with them I automatically become more child-like.  I have fun playing games with them, swinging on the swings and singing songs that light up their eyes but even when we are simply having a conversation, I realize that I love to see how they think and utilize their creativity.    Sometimes I am just walking or going to the store when I observe the giggled laughter or fun behavior of a child; it makes me smile and laugh at the same time.  It is their spontaneity and carefree-thinking and behavior that helps me think young again too.

Even taking the time to enjoy an ice cream cone is fun.  Who says that we adults have to be intense and serious all the time?  It certainly is more fun to laugh and feel joy in your step and in your day so why not work on opening your mind and heart and let your child-like personality shine through?  Here are some suggestions that might be helpful to you.

1.  Sit on a chase lounge and read a fun or interesting book that brings you joy and is unrelated to your work.

2.  Give your self-permission to take an afternoon off and go to a museum, an art gallery or go to the beach and collect shells. 

3.  Learn something new and different like taking a pottery class or a live art class, a foreign language is certainly different and may give you the opportunity to meet interesting people.

4.  Are you a camera buff?  Taking interesting pictures of nature and/or people can be very rewarding.

5.  Stretch out under a tree and take a nap –feel the freedom of having nothing to do and no one to interrupt your solitude. 

Pablo Picasso once said:  “Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist after he grows up.”

Creativity and a curious mind are two active ingredients for possessing child-like characteristics.  We do not have to lose these talents; we simply need to keep them alive in our hearts and soul by practicing them frequently.  Be open to explore new and unfamiliar experiences.  It is not only fun to try something new but it is also a way to renew your vitality and youthfulness.  Ask question, seek knowledge and wisdom and be willing to laugh often and play frequently.  This sort of thinking is what some of the most creative minds in the world have aspired to as they create innovative techniques and equipment for our daily use.  Do not underestimate the power of a child-like mind; it opens the space for creativity, flexibility and ingenuity to be nurtured and expanded upon as you experience more joy in your life. 

  

Joan Marie Ambrose

Author, Creative Writer, Motivational Speaker