Embrace your inner child

One of the wonderful things I've realized is that through words written and correspondence received over the years, I have a tangible connection to Debrah's wisdom and spirit. A vibrant and committed wellness proponent, she was also very open about her own struggles, lessons and path - whether sharing her latest inspiration in yoga class, helping a client explore their life plan in coaching, or trusting a friend with a business challenge. I loved that about her.

She also expressed many of her ideas in several books, articles and on her website. One of her writings featured the decision to pursue more fun in her life, to break away from being such a mature, professional, restricted adult:

"... My creativity was buried beneath layers of responsible adult behaviour... how dull!
To reclaim my creative inner child I began to watch children at play. I heard them sing out their laughter with no heed for who might be listening... or frowning. I watched them run and jump and skip without any regard for smudged clothing, disheveled hair or proper behaviour. Their faces beamed with vast reserves of joy and giggles long forgotten in the maturity of adulthood. They have so much to share if only we allow their wisdom to touch us... their innocence to soften our worried view of the world.

Then I let my creative inner child run and jump and skip, too. We played on the swings and climbed the inside of an old tree trunk (I got thoroughly soaked and smudged in the rain - it was so worth it!). I ventured further outside my box... stayed up all night to see the sun rise, watched several movies in a row until 3 am with a girlfriend, lazed in bed until noon on a sunny day 'just because', enjoyed red wine without guilt for the first time in a dozen years, indulged in exotic foods simply to tingle my tastebuds, dug out my watercolour pencils to draw for the first time in years, sang out loud with the windows down in my car, listened to new kinds of music... all for the sheer joy of it!

As a result I feel freer, more playful, more open, more creative, more loving. While I am not advocating that you disintegrate your health with nasty new habits in the name of fun, I am suggesting you experiment. Give yourself the pleasure of discovering what lives outside the box you have declared home for your spirit. Take your inner child to the playground... join the fun. Cook something unusual. Drive a different way to work. As the author Sark says, "invite someone dangerous to tea." Use your good china. Wear a new colour. Change your hairstyle. Go to an unusual play or movie. Finger paint. Let your creative spirit begin to move a bit more freely and stand back to watch what shifts in your life. You will be happier and, as idealistic as it sounds, so will the world around you. One more cheerful person on the planet contributes to all our well-being!..."*

With spring in the air, it feels like a very good time to embrace this suggestion. :)

* pp 28-29, Christmas Musings, 2005, Debrah Rafel