KIDS THESE DAYS
Nostalgia is such an addiction; we all suffer from it. We wallow in the past and think about how much better things used to be, the things we used to do, and the people we used to do them with. I have had times when a simple fragrance or the sound of music has sent me off down memory lane, thinking about some fond memory associated with whatever sensory stimulus I happened to be experiencing at that time. We often treat our childhoods as a sort of Zen garden, re-visiting and enjoying the company of the pleasant memories, but nothing grows. Nothing will ever match the feelings we felt when we were in those days, living our memories and doing the things we would become nostalgic for as we grew older.
A lot of those things had to be left behind as we grew up; that’s just the nature of life. Relationships fade away, hobbies are boxed up and put into storage, and our own personalities are changing and shifting by the day. Some things we let go of as a result of social pressure or a rush to grow up and let go of childish things. As kids, all we wanted to do was be adults. We thought the grass would be greener on the other side, and in certain ways, it very much is, but in others, we left behind some things that I feel are worth investigating and taking a second look at.
Some of the things that come to mind when thinking about childhood are things no longer in our control, but there is a lot that we have chosen to let go of like a balloon in the wind. But it wasn’t just a choice that we made one day; there were many situations that led to us letting go of these things that are now behind us, so maybe we can move forward and continue enjoying the things that once made our lives so bright. Maybe even finding joy in things that once brought us none.
I’m not sure who first told the lie that you can’t enjoy certain activities past a certain age, but it needs to stop, just like the one that says you need to start playing golf and drinking wine when you reach a certain age. It’s ridiculous. As adults, we are perfectly positioned to do kid stuff. We have both money and no bedtime. We are no longer restricted by the dollars in Mom’s purse and can get whichever LEGO set our hearts desire. If we are able to, we could build an entire LEGO world in our basement; the possibilities are endless. We can stop thinking about the little LEGO set we had when we were kids and begin enjoying our life as we build new memories, brick by brick.
It’s not just toys and games, however, that we left behind in our childhoods. As kids, we had an unlimited sense of curiosity and wonder. Everything was new to us, and so we wanted to explore and learn about the world. As we grew to be teenagers, however, we began to think we had it all figured out and stopped asking questions. For some reason or another, we carried this attitude with us straight into adulthood. Now we walk around thinking we have the answer to every question and never ask one ourselves because that would be admitting that we don’t know something. No wonder we’re all so tired all the time; it must be exhausting being an expert in every field all of the time. One second you’re an emergency doctor, and the next you find yourself giving political commentary to both sides of the aisle, all while voicing your opinion on the hottest stock trades of the week as you are also a keen financial analyst. All this, and you still refuse to dress up for Halloween.
That’s not to dismiss the masks we all wear every day. We put on an act when we’re at work dealing with bosses and co-workers, we manage social contracts and hold open doors when we don’t care to and keep our true emotions hemmed in at all times lest the world see us for who we truly are. Children, in adult bodies trying their best not to throw temper tantrums all day, every day. At least we used to have fun playing pretend, now it’s just a chore. Especially since most of the people we interact with on a daily basis we don’t even like, if not hate.
A child would not have this problem. A child would forgive in exchange for an apology. Adults hold grudges and harbour resentment. Children lead with their gut instincts, as adults we seek out sixteen sources of social proof before we even contemplate beginning to make a decision. Maybe this is why kids have an easier time making new friendships. Adults overthink things. We cripple ourselves through analysis paralysis. Perhaps we would benefit from a return to our more childlike ways. Maybe we would be a little less stressed out and maybe a little less lonely too.
