Acting like a child

As we age we are admonished to stop acting like a child. That may be true of some behaviors, but we all might benefit from acting more like a child. Have you ever stopped to observe small children? They are highly creative. They can take a simple object like a stick, transform it into a wand, and imbue it with magical powers. Children are spontaneous. They will take advantage of the circumstances of the now and throw caution to the wind. They are powerful. Ask any group of four year olds if they could travel to the moon and back and every one of them would raise their hands. They are color blind. They see each other as children without judgment of race or socioeconomic level. They are in awe of the world around them since everything is new. As time passes and they add years to their lives, their childlike approach to life changes. They learn that there are many things to be feared instead of loved. They raise their hands less often when asked if they can accomplish something. They come to believe in the limitations of life foregoing the freedoms of youth. When we hear them say, "I can't wait to grow up," do they know what price they pay to do so? What are the childlike qualities that you may have given up and what can you do to reclaim them to make the world a better place?