How many days a week do you feel like life is just too
complicated – Be honest? I guess even if it isn't, it doesn't take us long to
make things complicated by our own free will. We human beings just have this inherent
capacity to ramp up everything to the next level.
For the past few months, I have been a
stay at home mom – yet again. I do miss my working days, but spending time with
my son seems like a big consolation prize for this trade off. Some days have
been overwhelming in fact – settling in a new place – a new country with no knowledge
of their language. It’s natural to feel lost at times. However, I have my son –
to teach me simple things about life.
Don’t we teach our children everything we
can think of? From tying shoelaces to crossing the road safely to ride a bike
or not to talk to strangers. But have you ever pondered on the ways our children
inspire us? Here are some, that I could think of – even if you try one per week,
it will be a good start – trust me on that.
Start
Afresh!
Do you recall that wonderful feeling at the end of a term
at school or the summer break – didn't it always feel so final, so finished?
The holidays between May and July seemed like a lifetime. Because when we are
young, each day feels like an infinity and a new day means new prospects to
make new friends, discover new adventures, learn new things. Children don't
carry baggage from one day to the next. They start fresh, always. My son has
been made to first leave his friends in US and then in India. But he seems to
have no qualms. He already has a “BFF” here in Germany. See? It’s easy to always
start afresh.
Creative quests are fun
How often do you see children losing
themselves in a creative project for hours at a time? My son spends hours in drawing,
coloring, building his garden of dinosaurs, constructing a sandcastle in the
play area with scrupulous attention to detail. I wonder why, for some odd
reason, as we get older, we stop seeing creative activities as worthy? How many
of you, leaving aside if you are an artist, draw regularly – or sometimes maybe?
How many of you play with clay or finger paint just for the fun of it?
How many of you pursue your hobby? I recently began my buried love for
painting.
Be brave
My son sings out loud when he wants to. He
dances when he feels like. I guess his life feels unbounded. This is because unlike
us, children are not confined by fears of failure or embarrassment. They march
forward with confidence and fortitude because they don't know any better. They
haven't been beaten down, they haven't undergone failure. They embrace life and
all it has to offer with open arms.
Laugh – a lot!
My son laughs – and laughs a lot. He tells
me a funny story and expects me to laugh with him. But he doesn’t care, even if
I don’t. He can laugh on the same joke a million times saying “Mamma it’s so
funny!” .Children have the beautiful gift of finding joy all around them. I
mean, as adults what is it that you would find funny in a smashed cupcake or
hide and seek game every night before you go to bed? They see madness
everywhere. And I guess it’s better to be mad sometimes – or perhaps always?
Cherish friendship
Like I mentioned earlier, my son spent
only 2 and a half years in USA, but he made lots of friends whom he misses even
now. Then he made new friends in India, after which we moved to Germany. While
he misses his friends, but it took him just a month here to make new friends.
He hasn’t even started school yet. Children find true joy while playing with friends
and they love making new ones. They join football teams, go to a birthday
parties, and start new schools. These are all ways that children make new
friends. They adhere to the motto, "the more the merrier," and adults
should, as well.
Be the hero
Have you ever noticed that when a kid
tells you a story about his school or a conversation with his friend, or the
play area, they are usually the hero of their story? Seems like the entire world
revolves around them. As we grow old, we don't want to be snobbish or egocentric,
so we often modulate our accomplishments and successes. We don't want to boast.
At least some of us don’t want to? But in doing so, we often slip to the side
of self-disapproval. We put ourselves down to make others feel better or to be
more relatable. Humility becomes an admirable trait and we start to persuade
ourselves of our own mediocrity. Learn from the wisdom of a child. Be
the hero of your story.
Scars are symbols of honor
Remember, when we were children and broke
a bone, everyone we knew signed the cast? We become the superstar of the class –
or better put - the “survivor”. I notice the same with children today also. If
they fall down and cut themselves, everyone wants to see the scar, they wear it
pompously. As we age, we hide our scars, our injuries (and I am not referring
to physical wounds) become our secrets. We are scared to be seen as feeble or commiserated,
so we tell no one where it hurts and how much it hurts. However, what I learn
from my own son is to recognize is that scars aren't signs of weakness, a scar
is in fact a sign of strength and survival – utmost endurance. A story to tell.
An achievement.
Try new things
Children are never afraid to play a sport
they have never tried before. They will jump on a trampoline, dive into a pool
or ski down a mountain even if it is alien to them. As grown-ups, we fear the
unknown. We stay securely entrenched in our comfort zone and seldom venture
out. Adventure stimulates us and awakens the spirit. Sky diving and
bungee jumping still remain to be on my bucket list, thus.
Observe and cherish the little
things
My nephew loves watching the waves of the
sea run back and forth at the water's edge. He notices how fast his feet get buried
in the sand, as the water moves along the sand. Something simple that we take
for granted brings him immense joy and he could spend hours playing with those
waves. Ever wondered how and when did we stop noticing the petite miracles that
surround us daily?
A trek in the
woods overpowers the iPad any day!
The
latest gadgets and video games simply cannot replace the natural visuals, the
full-sensory experience, or the relationship of a family walk through the forests.
Never have, never will. And for that matter, nothing else produced on
television can compete either. So turn off that 42 inch
LED TV. Go outside. Live life, don’t just watch it on your little iPad.
Maybe children are in
this world because we as grown-ups have so much left to unlearn and relearn.
Keep Reading!
Auteur
No comments:
Post a Comment