Do you still believe in magic?
When I was a child, my entire life was surrounded by magic. I remember I could explain any single phenomenon through magic.
It’s sad to think that when we grow up, people will make fun of us if we say something is “magic”. At a certain age, we start to rationalize things and it looks like our brains decide it’s time to stop.
While I was living in Amsterdam, Netherlands I was baby-sitting as part-time job. I was lucky enough to had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with a beautiful child, who I’ll name Aya for privacy reasons.
I had always liked children, but it was thanks to Aya that I started to love them. She made me reconsider my entire life, starting from the very little things. A lot of people say that adults should teach children how to live, but I think (and I have no doubt about it) we should all learn from them.
If you’re still not sure about it, check out this list I made for you!
1. Every Day Is A New Adventure
The very first lesson Aya taught me was to simply have fun.
When I was with her, it didn’t matter if we were walking the same street as the day before, because that day was a new one and she could find new things to observe. Maybe it was an insect on the walk path or the clouds had a different shape. What mattered, was what a new day could bring to her.
Most of us get off from work, put the headphones on and go straight home. We don’t even look around us anymore, because our Instagram feed seems more interesting. What would happen if we decided to turn off our phones and look where we are going?
2. Every Moment Is The Right Moment
In the morning, I used to bring Aya to the kindergarten. I had to prepare her breakfast, change her clothes and basically make her ready. Everyday, we were almost late because she would spend hours enjoying her self.
As she was eating, she was laughing. When I was trying to dress her up, she wouldn’t stop playing with her feet and finally when we were ready.. she decided it was time to draw something new.
Everything was perfect to her. She was enjoy things as they came to her. It was the right moment to laugh, to play and to draw.
Sometimes we focus too much on what we have to do. We think we have to be productive all the time, while sometimes it sounds just right to sit back and relax. Even on vacation we don’t know how to enjoy. When was the last time you had time for yourself? Read again that book you liked. Watch that movie you love. Cook your favorite food.
3. You Don’t Care What Other People Think
Recently I was walking down the Metro in Singapore, and I saw a cute small girl in a unicorn dress. This is the kind of thing that catch your attention, but then you simply get over it because “she’s a child”. That’s right, she is, and she doesn’t care about what other people might think about it!
Aya uses to sing all the time and I’m sure she didn’t question whether people liked it or not, she just keeps on singing because that’s what she feels like in that moment.
I remember when I was a kid I used to ask silly questions because I wanted – obviously – to know the answer. I was taught to speak my mind, so I did. Nowadays I have to think twice before saying what I want to.
We worry so much about what people would think that we forget to even do things. Don’t take it like “Do whatever you want and you’ll be happy”, simply try to let yourself go a little bit. Imagine to feel that free again, and to have fun without the fear people would judge you.
To be honest, we don’t even know what somebody else is thinking. Maybe they wish they could have the same courage!
4. You Get Over Things Quickly
As every kid, even Aya has moods. She can be super happy and playful and the second after getting angry.
During summer, we used to buy ice cream on the way home. She really likes it (who doesn’t) but sometimes she also forget about it and keeps looking elsewhere (..because everyday is a new adventure). The ice cream would fall on the ground and got dirty. As soon as I threw it off, she started to cry and got mad at me. She wouldn’t talk to me for any reason, no matter how much I begged her.
But as we got home, she was smiling again and we started to play like nothing happened.
I think we decide not to forgive because of our Ego. It would look very weak from us to forget and simply go on, right? Well, apparently that’s wrong for children. Of course, if it’s something serious it’s better to talk about it and then eventually get over it, but we often get mad at each other for the little stupid things.
If you forget quickly, you can go back and enjoy your day again. Just think about how much time we waste because we have to pretend to be angry.
One of the biggest mistake we make is growing up forgetting how we enjoyed life. Truth is, we can learn it all over again and put some magic in our life!
Aya is still in Amsterdam now, she will turn 2 years at the end of this November! I miss that baby very much and that’s why I come out with this blog post idea.
Do you have any other suggestions you wish to add to the list? I would love to collect more ideas!
Love,
Sonia
