The Inner Child

The Inner Child

They say that to stay youthful it is important to try to nurture the inner child…

 

This is not to say that you have to behave in a childish fashion at all times, but to occasionally allow yourself to cast aside inhibition and fully experience the sheer thrill of being alive and engage in child-like activities.

 

I have been trying to do this in a small way myself.

 

During the tea break at orchestra, I noticed that there was one remaining Jammie Dodger and elbowed my way through the swarm of junior members to claim it for myself. However the initial sense of childish delight and triumph was soon replaced by remorse. This was not the right way to behave at all.

 

It occurred to me yesterday that perhaps the child-like behaviour should be more physical and natural.

 

There is a stretch of secluded paving at the back of the building. I decided to skip along it, not with a skipping rope, just free skipping. I felt a little self-conscious at first but then started to thoroughly enjoy myself. Skipping along, faster and faster, the wind in my hair – it was truly exhilarating.

 

A weed-spraying grounds maintenance person appeared unexpectedly around the corner. I attempted to disguise the fact that I had been skipping by suddenly descelerating and converting my up-and-down momentum into dramatic hobbling.

 

I assured the (visibly alarmed) weed-spraying grounds maintenance person that I was perfectly fine and continued hobbling until I was out of his sight.

 

Perhaps it is time to act like a mature adult, besides; I think I’ve done something to my knee.