Once I was a Child

As time goes by and age creeps up ever so quickly, I often reflect on years gone by. We don’t think much of the future when we’re children but now as an aging adult I sure do think often of my youth. As children we live in the moment, care free, simple, constant learning. We don’t care about wars in other countries, we don’t care about our neighbors skin color or our friends at school. As time goes by those things get learned in all manner of ways, both good and bad. But the life of child is, for the most part, is sweet, with no worries and a whole summers of adventuring. We play free, we think free and life is just full of colors and fascinations. Oh, to live so unencumbered and unburdened from adult life is beyond precious. Once we were children and then in a flash, it’s gone. Childhood behind us, playtime is over; it’s work time, family time, bill time, slave time. We quickly sell our soul to the society around us. It’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Grow up, be a man, be a provider, have children, tend a house and the field or the office. Clean, repair, fix, replace, buy, buy, buy. If one is aware, they may stop and look around and wonder, how did I get to this place? I say, it’s a little bit of brain washing and a little bit of iggnorance all wrapped up in forgetting that once I was a child.

Once I was a child and did all those childish things. I picked up frogs, maybe even kissed one or two. I ran barefoot, I built forts, I climbed trees, I jumped bikes. I swam in cold deep lakes always thinking there might just be a lake monster, that would reach from the depths, grab my legs at any time and pull me under. I never wondered where food came from, it just magically appeared. Money had no meaning, being black or white or Russian, Chinese, or American had no meaning. We were just free. Until we weren’t. Responsibility was put on us. Knowing better was drilled into our heads. Chores, repercussions, money became our understanding. The coming adult world was changing the playground from fun and free into toil and grind. And as I reflect back as an adult, it happened in a flash. Once I was a child, now I’m grown, aging and lost in a concrete world of timeclocks, and overdue bills, going round and round on the wheel. I’m tired now, my body aches, I’m losing time ever faster and faster, and I recognize it can’t be replaced.

But atlas, being an adult does bring some freedom if one can find a way to choose it. We are free to travel, free to explore, free to roam and journey. We are free to learn and think beyond a child’s understanding. We are free to be wise and aware and then to act upon it. Once I was a child thinking shouldn’t be lived in regret but as in inspiration to still dream, to still conquer dragons and create magic. We must never allow that child spirit to die and wither away. We must continue to be playful, curious and never settle into the hard labor and drudgery of quote, “being an adult”. Our bodies age, our bones and muscles get stiff. We can’t see as well, we can’t hear as well, sometimes we can’t think as well but let us never forget that once we were a child and that same soul is still alive in each and every one of us. Seeking for the next adventure, exploring the next journey. Just because our bodies weather the many storms doesn’t mean we still can’t chase rainbows. Where is your road taking you?