Never lose the kid in?YOU !!!

I jumped from my recliner to give my hand, but then restrained myself. So tempted to help yet controlled my desire. All my attention was focused on the series of tiny events. Just about then, he slipped again. Oh God! I hope it doesn’t repeat.

This kid is so relentless in trying, I thought. Gravity won over the kid’s balance as it fell again. Tried again, fell again. The event continued for a few more days. I thought it had made enough attempts and would give up soon.

Few days later, a sudden joyful scream in the family distracted me. People started calling each other to notice and pay attention. Some ran to pick up their phones & cameras. The house got filled with high decibel joyful sound. The family was celebrating the kids’ victory over Gravity, as he had finally learnt to stand up.

As I walked back to my work desk, I pondered; there is a child within all of us. The societal lens, so called “act of being matured” or “being responsible” and many such epithets dominate the child in us. As we age, we lose many qualities of a child. Instead, what we need to strive for is to ‘Learn the art of growing without losing your inner child’.

Some of these qualities hold relevance even in our adulthood and can help lead a better life:

1. Never Give Up: No kid learns to walk without failing. I wish I could capture their mind while dealing with frequent failures for so many days before walking or speaking etc. I can’t imagine having a child’s enthusiasm, persistence, perseverance, and never give up attitude to overcome their failures. Honestly, a child won’t know anything about these big life altering words, yet innocently keeps on trying. As adults we know the meaning of these words, yet we give up, why? I want my inner child to reset the same enthusiasm & innocence in dealing with failures.

2. Creativity: Creativity is a natural boon in kids. As kids, we didn’t know concepts of story boarding, ideation, brainstorming or design thinking. We followed all this intuitively & instinctively. Remember the days when we created trucks, sand carriers or cars from those empty match boxes! Kids are creative and silently challenge the status quo. As kids, were always creative to find solutions despite resource constraints. Our creative brain was always at work. Let’s dig in within us to get back our creativity to deal with any challenge in life.“The creative adult is a child who survived.” — Ursula Leguin

3. Curiosity & excitement: Kids are born with innate curiosity. When we were kids, we were simply curious, inquisitive, and excited about everything new. As kids we always wanted to know why, how, when etc on the drop of a hat. Today, our curiosity is layered by “know it all” attitude. Let’s wake up the curious child in you to enquire with the same excitement as before.

4. Living in the moment: Ever observed a kid experiencing every small activity: playing in the park, frolicking mindlessly, engrossed in painting etc. They take joy by indulging in every activity they do. I am sure, back then, they had not been introduced to the so-called “Mindfulness”. Child within us was never in a rush but adulthood changed it forever. Today we are always in a rush and chasing timelines. We don’t need the so called “Mindfulness”, but just awaken the child within us to cherish every moment in everything we do.

5. Laughing stupidly: Its laughable, that today we need ‘laughing sessions’ to “Laugh”. Children laugh easily on the smallest of things. They don’t need any laughter sessions in a park or gym. As kids, we used to laugh our lungs out without any fear of being judged. Child within us still wants to laugh out loud but often image consciousness restricts us. So, next time if you stumble upon your favorite cartoon, have a laugh or two!! ??

6. Love & hug: Do you feel, the world comes to a standstill for few moments when a child hugs you when you get home. It does to me for sure. I can’t think of a better example of unconditional expression of love. Those tiny fingers, that heartbeat, the excitement, and charm, truly transcends me into a heavenly feeling. In my view love continues to be the best therapy in today’s world. Let’s spread it like we did when we were kids.

7. Nonjudgmental: Can you imagine the Sun being Green, or an elephant being Blue?? But you will be amazed at such powerful imagination in a kid’s drawing book. It’s because kids don’t see the world through a specific lens until we force it on them. As adults we built a template for every behavior & actions. We judge people against those templates and criticize them. Whereas kids have an unfiltered & non judgmental approach in their outlook.

In summary, we overlay our adulthood onto the child within us. However, it’s regrettable when we kill the child within us. I guess there are so many childlike qualities which are still relevant to Adults or Elders. So, let’s reinstate some qualities back from our inner child. By the way, don’t forget to share your childhood creative stuff and favorite cartoons.