Clarity from a Kid

One beautiful afternoon, my neighbour asked of me a favor.

"Will you climb the hay bales with me?"

I should clarify that this neighbour is a nine year old girl.

"Uh... I have to do some stuff inside on the computer." I was looking for excuses. I didn't really feel like babysitting.

"Oh. It's just that I can only climb on them when I have adult supervision."

I looked outside and noted how gorgeous it was. I reviewed the stuff "I had to do." But bigger and stronger than that stuff was a growing spark inside me that I couldn't put out, not with any sort of lame excuse. I quickly took stock and discovered that: yep... I still love climbing on things.

I agreed, and brought a book with me, thinking I'd enjoy the afternoon sun while she clambered up and all over the rolled hay bales.

She thought this was a terrible idea.

"Tonia, come look at this. Tonia, check out how I climb. Tonia, see what I can do?"

At first I was kinda frustrated. But before I knew it I was clambering up and all over the pile with her. And having a pretty fun time.

I realized that I didn't agree to do this for her, but wanted to do it for the nine year old in me. I wasn't supervising, but playing, although I was certainly grateful for the excuse.

Alright, life lesson learned. Right? Shall we call it a day?

Nope!

Then things got real. Like adult real.

"I want to try something. I like trying things.  Because I'm a kid."

"Do you think that's what's wrong with adults, they don't try things enough?"

"Yep. Pretty much."

Now, mind you, the thing she "tried" resulted in the place being lost in my treasured copy of Carolyn Myss's Anatomy of the Spirit which I was finally reading. It also resulted in the corners getting bent and muddied.

Despite all this, the mini conversation struck me.

For the book the trial failed miserably.

For her it was just another thing she tried. (She did apologize and rebutted her comment by saying, "That's the problem with kids, though. Sometimes they make a mess of things.")

For me it was magic. (I forgave her.)

Adults, myself included, too often get freaked out when it comes to trying (new) things. So the new things don't get tried, and life remains unchallenged and unchanging.

And here was this fearless, little champion telling me with absolute clarity why she thinks adults are kinda lame. And there I was atop a tower of hay, stacked three bales high, being slapped in the face with the notions of courage, conviction and compassion for the kid in me who just wants to try things.

The world never looked so clear

This moment which existed with in three or four minutes has rekindled in me a sense of awe, and rerooted a belief in my path both personally and professionally.

It is exciting that this message will never be lost. Cosmetically the book will never be the same. But neither will its impact.

With each muddy page that I will need to separate in order to turn, I'll be reminded of three main life lessons:

1. Go outside. Don't wait for a better time (it could rain HARD at any moment - which it did shortly after this interaction).

2. You never need an excuse to play.

3. Always try things. Always.

I hope you have a happy, healthy day, playing outside, and trying things!

Here's to your jivin' health and thrivin' life,

Dr. Tonia