From time to time, I suspect we all harken back to our childhood days. When each day was greeted as an adventure. Remembering praying for a snowstorm, so that the school would close for a day or two? Playing in the rain. Making new friends. And hearing the voice of our parents telling us to act our age! Sometimes they had to remind us more than once.
What does it mean to act your age? To have good table manners, to be polite to adults, to behave in a way that society expects you to behave – given your age of course – conducting yourself appropriately, given the situation. Without question, our parents’ call to action, to act our age, was for our own good. Fast forward to adulthood. I submit, there are times NOT to act your age!
Have you ever experienced the dreaded feeling “I feel old?” Age is just a number. I believe there is no such thing as “too old.” Indeed, our age is a number that goes up every year (if we are lucky). The key is to be proud of your age, you earned it. Remember to take your spirit and passion with you in this journey and to soar.
It appears that we are taking the command to act our age too seriously. We seem to be smiling and laughing less. Of course, as adults we are in fact responsible for our actions. However, our age is what we keep in our head and our heart. It is making the most of a given moment. Singing along to your favorite song, having dessert, laughing out loud. Choose to act like your younger self, feel free to break the laws of aging. Act your age later.
“Act your age, don’t pretend to be older than you are, give yourself time to grow!” – Nas
“Live your life and forget your age.”– Norman Vincent Peale
As we enter the holiday season, let us remember there is a child inside of each of us who wants to come out and play – the child who wakes up with a smile, looking forward to a new exciting day. Who sees the good in new life, and in others. Creative pursuits are fun. It is ok to ask for help. Happiness is found in small things. Be fearless. Learn to express your feelings! Let them out, give unconditionally, speak the truth.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge, for knowledge is limited. Whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution, it is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.”-Albert Einstein
Learn to believe in yourself. Dream Big! Worry less. It is ok not to know everything. Explore more new ideas are not scary. Have a zest for life. We are all students in life.
Eartha Kitt said, “I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.”
Today is the perfect day to turn off technology and listen. Be a better person.
Always choose people over things. Use your potential. Live for others. Indulge in the joy of living, savor the sweetness of life. I firmly believe, if we all let the child within us come out, the world would be a better place. Imagine a world, where we treat each other as family.
Learn to love people on good days and bad days! Acceptance is a beautiful thing. Slow down and play. Remember the magic of play. Forget your to-do list, and celebrate life! It is important that we add “playing” to our to-do list and life objectives. It helps us live longer, have less stress and create a circle of new playmates! Remember to each day, to take the time to learn from children.
It is in fact a wonderful life!
