Today’s prompt:
Write a message to your inner child to give them permission to do things like watch a holiday movie with hot cocoa or catch snowflakes on the tip of your tongue or belt out a favourite holiday song. (And then go do it.)
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The origin of the word “naive:”
1650s, “natural, simple, artless,” from French naïve, fem. of naïf, from Old French naif “naive, natural, genuine; just born; foolish, innocent; unspoiled, unworked” (13c.), from Latin nativus “not artificial,” also “native, rustic,” literally “born, innate, natural.”
This morning my son rushed out the door as soon he saw the snowflakes begin to fall. I watched him as he held his tongue out and tried to catch a snowflake. He closed his eyes and giggled every time he caught a snowflake.
As I thought about the message I wanted to write to the child within, the “innocent” and the “foolish” part of me that plays pranks and does impulsive silly things, I knew what I wanted to say:
You are free to lighten up the heavy me. Please lift the self-inflicted heavy burdens and unnecessary worries of adult life. Suspend the serious. Defy the gravity of the overwhelming and cumbersome conundrums of everyday life. Shed those layers of skin that you have thickened to protect yourself from bumps and bruises that you collect as you leap without looking. Resist the temptation to be the eternal cynic and go catch some stars. Ignore the criticism and the jaded comments when you believe in magic and in love. Halt growth for just one moment. It takes courage to be outwardly happy these days. It takes a childlike, dragon-slaying bravery to see the world with rose-coloured glasses. Protect this light(ness) fiercely and shout (or sing) from the rooftops, “Joy to the world!”
Now excuse me while I go catch some snowflakes on my tongue…
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