Before my niece was born, I didn't really have any close contact with children. I don't yet have any of my own and members of my family who do have them are either far away or I just don't see them as often as id like, as is often the case in life. Since 2012, however, I have been blessed with being an Aunty to the most amazing, adorable and beautiful little girl who absolutely makes my heart burst at the seams with love.
The more I spend time with my niece, the more she amazes me and the more I see things through her eyes. This got me thinking about how children interact and enjoy the world around them and how they have so many beautiful, endearing qualities that we as 'grown-ups' seem to leave behind. Each time I play with her and she laughs and smiles as though I am the funniest person in the world, it makes me realise how much we could all learn from children.
1. Everything is a miracle!
There is a quote I have heard a dozen times, assigned to Albert Einstein which states that “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Children definitely live life as though everything is a miracle. When my niece first saw Christmas lights her eyes light up brighter than the lights themselves and she wore an expression of sheer amazement and wonder. When bath time arrives, she is the happiest person ever and why not? Its bath time! How lovely it is to sit in a warm bath and play with bubbles and cups and ducks! And how amazing it is that water just runs from the taps at the flick of a wrist! She truly enjoys the bath, she appreciates it and it makes her truly happy. Indeed, she finds true happiness in many of the simplest things, such as a piece of music, a toy or a book.
As adults, for whatever reason, be it worries, stresses, too much thinking and social conditioning we seem to lose this sense of wonder. But what if we all tried to see the miracle in life more often? Because isn't it a miracle that we get to be alive and enjoy Christmas lights and have running water on demand? Isn't it a miracle that our skin tingles when getting into a hot bath on a cold day? Life is full of miracles and children are innocent enough and unspoiled enough to notice.2. Children do not try to be anyone else but themselves
Children are who they are, without apology. Children do not try to be something they are not because they haven't yet been conditioned to the way of thinking dictating what is acceptable, what is cool or uncool what they 'should' like or dislike. Therefore, children simple like what they like and dislike what they don't. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and what you see is definitely what you get. A lot of people's lives would probably be happier and more meaningful if we were all just who we are.
3. Children dance like no one is watching
The phrase 'dance like no one is watching' never seems more apt than when applied to children. Children have not yet developed the acute sense of self-consciousness that often cripples us as adults and therefore they do not worry about what they look like or what other people think. They enjoy themselves without inhibition or doubt. Nothing is more beautiful to me than when my niece dances to a song and really loses herself in the music without a care in the world for who is watching. It would be wonderful if we as adults could let go of our inhibitions a bit too, just like children. Indeed, the desire to do so is proven by the success of the alcohol business. Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting we all act like wild savages without care but when it comes to harmless fun such as dancing or more professional tasks such as public speaking being a little less self-conscious could make life a little more fun!
4. Children love unconditionally
Children love unconditionally. If you are someone in their lives who is kind to them they will love you no matter what. They don't care if you have lost weight or gained weight, earn a lot or a little, have a spot or a big nose. They love you. End of. Life would be so much happier if we all as adults, myself included, loved more like children, unconditionally and without judgement.
5. Children live in the moment and are present in the moment
Children do not really have a concept of yesterday or tomorrow and consequently live life day by day. They enjoy each day as it unfolds without expectation and therefore they truly live each day. They are there in that day. As adults, we are often just bodies drifting through a day whilst our minds are off somewhere in the past or future, two places that actually don't exist. We would all enjoy each day so much more if we just lived for the day and didn't spend all our time obsessing over the events of things gone or to potentially come. What's more, children don't spend their time taking photos of a day out or making a video recording of an event, they just enjoy it consciously in that moment as it unfolds. Of course as adults we need to plan to an extent but I think many of us, again myself included, spend far too much time thinking about life in the future when actually the only thing we have is now. Right now. So lets make like children and live for today.
I know that as adults we have jobs and responsibilities that children do not have to worry about but I truly believe that we can all learn from children and can make an effort to try and embody more of the qualities I have listed above. I think we would all be happier for it. We should not lose our inner child. It is well quoted that the average toddler laughs around 300 times a day but the average 40 year old only four. They are obviously doing something right.
P.S. To my Beautiful Niece, this post is dedicated to you. A ray of light to conquer any darkness. I love you <3
