Feed your Inner Child (or at least, water it š)
Why do we feed our body but starve our soul?
Stepping outside the realm of the freaky, paranormal blogs that, hopefully, challenge and open your mind, to another unknown mystery that stares us all in the face daily. Iām talking about the frantic, hurried pace of life that seems to stir in us a desire to do better, be better, than the person next to us. That need, that urgency, ignites a spark that can, at times, consume us, making us blind to some very real truths.
One of these truths, I believe, is the key to a happier existence.
You must feed your inner child.
What, you say? What is this madness she speaks of? Glad you asked, my friend. The fact is, somewhere between our youth and that magic age of āadulthoodā, weāve forgotten how to be truly happy. Happy in our choices (whether theyāve turned out bad or good), happy with our loved ones, happy in our own company. The drive to succeed, though an admirable trait, is the same drive that chains us to traveling the interstate of life at Mach 10, rather than taking the scenic route.
Nothing is pretty at 80mph, people.
Donāt get me wrongā I am as guilty as the next person. Some days, not only do I fail to stop and smell the roses, I donāt even see that theyāre there. But, think about it. When was the last time you sloshed gleefully through a mud puddle or camped in the backyard just to see the stars? When was the last time you danced in the rain?
Image credit HDC Photography
I mean, sober. With your clothes on.
My point is that these are things we did way back when, before the responsibilities of life damn near crushed us. Family routines and housing costs, car payments and doctor visits, tuition rates and orthodontics. And while all of these are important, vital parts of life that cannot, should not, be ignored, they are but one thread in the fabric of life.
Damn, that should be on a t-shirt.š
Life is complicated and demanding and messy most of the time. It can deal us a brilliant hand one day, and a saggy bag of caca the next. But itās the only cards we have. And the best part? You can say ābite meā, flip those cards over and see a cool design on the back! Or, you can toss them aside for a new deal, stick an ace up your sleeve, or bluff your way to a winning hand.
The only thing you canāt do is fold.
So, how do we keep life fresh? How do we avoid falling into the trap of the mundane? We feed our inner child! We have that ice cream cone, ride that roller coaster, do whatever it is that, once upon a time, made us aware that we are ALIVE!
When life gets you down, look up.
Truth bomb here for the younger crowdā the years develop wings after the age of 21. It seems we canāt wait to reach that magical age, the one where we are truly considered to be a grown-up. Then, one morning you wake up to realize you are 26, maybe married, just starting a family. Your inner child is off to the side, crouched in the corner, politely waiting until things settle before springing back into action.
Blink.
Next thing you know, you are in your mid- thirties, attending parent conferences, plugging for that raise, building your portfolio for retirement. Retirement that seems a lifetime away. Your inner child is no longer visible, hiding behind the skirts of obligation and duty and accountability.
Blink.
Your forties fly by you. Suddenly, you are looking at college choices for the kids, maybe considering changing careers, wondering what the hell happened to your thirties. Your inner child is now just a reflection, a faded memory of what you used to be.
Blink.
Well, you get the idea. I wonāt depress you any further. I used to use the term āI canāt wait,ā a lot. Stuff like āI canāt wait until the kids are out of diapersā, or āI canāt wait until my kids can drive themselves to practice.ā The āI canāt waitāsā piled up until one day, I looked around and noticed that everything I couldnāt wait for had passed. And, in the interim, Iād missed the enjoyment, the journey, of actually getting there. After all, life is supposed to be a slow roll, right? We donāt want to sprint to the finish line, do we?
Yeah, cause the finish line is the end of the line.š¬
Now, when I look back, I wish I could turn back the clock to diapers and football games and birthday parties at the bowling alley, carrying a box of tissues under my arm for that one kid who always seemed to have a snotty nose.
But, unless you are Cher, we canāt turn back time. Bummer.
Life is a gift. And while it is an amazing opportunity to experience love and laughter, it is also a privilege revoked far too soon.
So, feed that inner child. Donāt be afraid to enjoy your own company, take a risk you normally wouldnāt, buy that triple venti no-foam latte if it pleases you. Your soul and body are a package deal. You can do all the crunches in the world, but if your soul isnāt thriving, your body is just a shell; a container holding your bones as you sleepwalk through life.
And thatās no fun.
So, please, take care of you. All of you.. We want you around a long, long timeš
If we live our lives like today is our last, we will have lived the best life possible.
Later gatorsā¦Iām heading outside. It looks like rainš Peace out, my friends.
ā Q