On Growing Up

I always want to be young at heart.

Always.

It’s part of the reason I work with kids. It’s why I love Disney. It’s not just the nostalgia.

When I think of the term, ‘young at heart,’ I think of light-heartedness, being care-free, spontaneity and most of all loving with every fibre of your being. To me, being young at heart means letting go of fear.  A child is compelled to do what they want to do, no matter the risk, or what others think. They’re not bound by the fear of others, and it’s only when they start listening to US, they start doubting themselves.

So, I believe, to grow up, means to grow down.

Choose your goals, write them down, do your timelines, flowcharts, be serious, be keen, got to it with determination and the knowledge you can succeed. Ever watched a group of children make mud pie? See the determination on their faces? See the seriousness of the event and the absolute coordination? They choose the leader through ‘einiee meanie minee mo.’

Ever told a child, ’you can’t make mud pie?’ What do they say to that? They say, ‘watch me.’

Or they say nothing, and go ahead and do it anyway.

Go forth with the knowledge you are brilliant and you can achieve your desire. Don’t listen to the people who doubt, who complain, who say, ‘people can’t have everything they want.’ They’ve just forgotten how to believe in the magic that makes worlds.

It seems the longer we live, the more we have to complain about, so let’s drop all that nonsense and get to it.

Who would you prefer to be like? A small child who wakes at four in the morning and is so eager to start the day, they get up and potter around the kitchen looking for their next adventure? Or someone who  can’t get their arse out of bed because it’s raining.

Put on your gum boots and go make mud pie.