My Inner Child

I'm going to just go ahead and say what we all think. Growing up sucks. Yeah, there's a few perks, like being able to drink & have sex, but those things are fun. But jobs, bills, responsibilities, stress and life in general, has a way of sucking the joy out of things. As a child, life was filled with happiness. It was everywhere you looked. From an empty box that could be anything from a robot to a rocket ship, to your backyard, which at any moment could be transformed into a magical fairyland or deep dark woods filled with evil goblins. Life was what you made it. Anything your mind could conjure up became your reality. At least until Mom called you in for dinner. 

The same just isn't true as an adult. You can't turn your stuffy cubicle into a pirate ship and shoot rubber band cannons at your enemy. Well, you could, but I doubt it would go over so well. When your spouse or your kids are stressing you out, you can't go hide in your fort and escape into a book. They'll just follow you. So what do you do? How do you keep your sanity in a world that does its best to make you crazy? 

Well, some folks do drugs. Some drink. Some spend entirely too much time on internet porn. I'm not judging. To each their own, I say. But I have taken a different route. I've opted to stay in touch with my inner child. 

Do you ever notice how when playing with kids, it's so easy to get absorbed into their activities? How quick to laugh, and be silly we are when surrounded by the innocence and joy of children? It's because we are connecting with our inner child during that time. 

Personally, I have a great relationship with my inner child. I'm not afraid to bring her out from time to time and escape from the all too real realities that are my life. Some people see my gnome collection or the silly pics I take of them and think "She's so weird." Yup. I am. But you know what? It makes me laugh. And if it brings a smile, or a laugh to one other person, even better. I still play with Legos. I wear a tiara when I clean my house. I have stuffed animals as throw pillows on my sofa. And sometimes, when life gets a bit out of control, I build a fort, hide in it and color. Does this make me insane? Who knows. I like to think I'm relatively sane. But if I'm not, oh well. I suppose it could always be worse. 

As a child, I had an imaginary friend, and while some people think that is the sign of a creative mind, others think it is a sign that you  might need therapy. It could go either way. I like to think of myself as a creative individual, but I'm sure a therapist would have a field day with me, as well. I'm not perfect. (Big shock, right?) But I have no desire to be. Where's the fun in being perfect? What could be considered flaws to one person may be charming quirks to another. I am who I am, and I make no apologies. 

So is being in touch with your inner child such a crazy thing? Is it so mad to want to reconnect with a part of yourself that was innocent and carefree? A part that found happiness in the simple things. A part that dealt with the disappointments in life with a snack and a brightly colored Band-Aid. A part that started each day with a smile and enough energy to take on the world. A part that knew the only difference between the bathtub and Atlantis was a matter of perspective. Call me crazy, but I think life is hard enough without having to grow old and cynical too. So, I'm sticking with my inner child. She has a great sense of adventure, and throws a mean tea party, too. 

Summertime Memories...

I know it's only March, but here in Michigan it's been more like June these last couple of weeks. I am loving every minute of it. Warm weather means bbq's, sundresses, flip-flops, cold beer, sunshine and just plain fun. It also means summertime memories. Some of my favorite moments have been centered around summer fun.
Growing up, we spent our summers at campgrounds and parks all over the state, and made not just great memories, but life long friends. Too many kids in one tent made for some interesting nights, but Oh the days... From the time our eyes opened til Mom called us back for dinner, we were the living embodiment of summer. Dirty bare feet, sunkissed skin and smiles as big and bright as the sun itself. We swam, we fished, we explored, we played games and we discovered that brothers and sisters can be more than playmates, they can be best friends. No matter what summer activity we were enjoying, we were usually doing it together. From canoe and tubing trips, to bike rides and baseball. My siblings were my teammates, my lifesavers and my closest companions.
As we grew up, our activities may have changed, but we were still doing them together. Maybe not every single day, but more often than not. Over the years, "my friends" and "your friends" have become "our friends" and most of them have been around so long, they feel more like family. I always know that even if I didn't see someone all winter long, as soon as the snow melts, the grass starts getting greener and the bbq grill gets fired up, I'll be seeing them soon. And often. Sometimes it's an impromptu bbq,  an evening bonfire, or a quick game of baseball, frisbee or football. Whatever it is, it's always fun. Our kool-aid mustaches have been replaced with cold beer and we haven't shared a sleeping bag in years, but every time I breath in the smell of fresh cut grass and feel it's coolness beneath my bare feet, I think of those little kids and how grateful I am that even though we've grown up, we've never grown apart.