Notes To My Younger Self:
When I was young, fun was automatic. Like breathing. It didn’t take much. Mostly, just being outside. Since everywhere I looked I saw potential. Potential for grand adventures. There were secret nooks to be discovered, trees and bushes to explore, critters to observe, endless opportunities to become a journeyman and create and dream and let my imagination run wild. Sounds, smells, colors and textures were in abundance. Kicking my curiosity even further into overdrive. Oh the stories I would create, the menagerie of characters in their worlds. And when I returned from every adventure, I felt filled up, giddy and inspired.
As I got older, something shifted. Something I didn’t notice or welcome. A mindset that crept in without me realizing. Every time I was tempted by a potential adventure, a very grown up sounding voice inside my head would say things like aren’t you a little old to be doing that? You’ll certainly mess up your nice clothes. Surely there are things out there that might sting you, bite you, cut you or give you hives. Besides, don’t you have more important things to do? Work, organizing, laundry, grocery shopping and relationships to attend to? Have you considered what kind of example you’re setting? You are an adult after all. Beyond that, what will your family, friends, neighbors think? Because being taken seriously is very important as a grown up.
I want you to know that it’s okay to quiet that voice. That fun has always been and will continue to be the lifeline to the creativity inside you. The freedom, joy and giddiness is still there, idling inside. The more fun you have the more creative and fulfilled you’ll become. So allow yourself to release the wide-eyed child. She is your creative center. What you’ve been searching for. She misses you and I’ll bet you’re missing her. She is your personal, never ending supply of inspiration and energy—your birthright. All you have to do is let go and ask her to come out and play.
E.L. Chappel author of Spirit Dance/Storm Makers/Coming very soon: The Surge
Everything you need is inside of you.
aka The Glamorous Wife