Child’s play…

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

There must be millions of people who had their childhoods snatched away one way or another and never got to experience being a child. My heart goes out to them.

Many of us maybe think the kids are growing up too fast these days. But ask a little one how old they are, and they’ll hit you with something like ‘ seven and a half’  to let you know they’re on the way to being eight. They really want you to know that.

Then there is the thing of becoming a teenager, sixteen or twenty-one. So, youngsters are all looking forward, they are wanting to grow up, cruising through the years until suddenly big birthdays are not quite as exciting.

This is where you really do want to recognise that you have regained some childlike ( as opposed to childish) qualities. To enjoy having fun, being a bit silly sometimes, loving to laugh, to not taking oneself too seriously, with a light heartedness that is to feel an easy joy.. and yes, to remain curious… To leave the light on…

9 thoughts on “Child’s play…

  1. That’s such a thoughtful and insightful post, Joey. You absolutely hit the nail on the head with every one of those observations.
    It’s so true how children are constantly counting those months, eager to be seen as ‘older’ and reach the next milestone.
    They are always looking forward, cruising right along to those big birthdays like sweet sixteen or twenty-one.
    And then, just as you said, the energy shifts. Suddenly, we realize the real joy is in recapturing that lightheartedness and easy joy. The goal becomes less about getting older and more about embracing those wonderful childlike qualities: being silly, laughing often, remaining curious, and not taking life or ourselves too seriously. It’s about finding that balance and giving ourselves permission to “leave the light on.”
    Thanks for putting that feeling into words so perfectly.

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  2. One huge positive for me about being neurodiverse is that, whilst I was an old soul as a kid, I’ve never really grown up into the kind of very conservative, professional middle-age that many of my peers did. I’m still as liberal, open and curious about the world as I ever was.

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