Its been said that everyone has an inner child within them. One has to wonder exactly what this means. Is having one a sign of immaturity? A lack of responsibility? Does this mean that anyone saying that they have an inner child is suffering from a case of split personality? are all these questions valid to begin with?
Do I admit to having an inner child? You bet I do. But what does this mean? The way I see it, I use the euphemism to refer to actions that I would do that are easily related to what a playful child would do. What do I mean? I learn to enjoy life - even life's simple items... after all, a child knows how to play and enjoy, so by my doing certain things that allow me to enjoy myself, I am actually letting my inner child out to "play".
As of this writing, I'm a 45 year old husband and father of two, a facilitator/I.T. consultant, a Toastmaster, a Leadership trainer, a coach to some. That sounds like anyone who happens to have built their reputation, and enjoys the trust and respect of plenty. Its my professional face.
But friends likewise know me as a role player - a game player... one that many people of younger ages tend to enjoy. If this is a doubtful consideration, the fact that many of my gamer friends (and myself included) find it hard to schedule a new game, due to the realization that we've not enough time to spare for this particular activity. Yet should we find the time, I'm sure we would either try a start game or just hang around and discuss - relive those heydays of memorable games we had the opportunity to share with each other.
Another 'child-like' activity I still do is reading comics - again, something that young teens would normally enjoy - which is about the time I got into such hobby (reading and collecting) and have yet to let go of... that is, if I'm planning to let it go to begin with.
But my inner-child attitude does not end there. I like playing pranks with my kids, my wife, my friends and yes, even my professional colleagues - harmless but enjoyable pranks like getting a colleague's company ID so I can attach it to the room's sprinkler system - thus hiding it 'in plain sight', letting a family pet dog lick my face (and letting it actually remove excessive oil from my face) then kissing my wife - who earlier obviously reacted negatively to the dog licking me... thus in the process, actually letting my dog-licked face touch hers.
The pranks or actions are numerous... and they help give spice to an otherwise droll life. It may also be the reason for me to looks slightly younger than my age (when compared to other colleagues of like age range), and it could also be a reason for me to have a relatively low stress lifestyle.
My inner-child appreciates the natural environment, and if I could run, skip and jump, I might probably just do that at times - alas, my body complains at times with these sudden urges to do such activities, and I do need more exercise... and my inner-child tells me when I need to relax because I'm too serious - so I tend to crack jokes when a colleague, upon asking a question, seems too serious. To said colleague's benefit, she pauses for just a second, then proceeds to spank my shoulder - a sign that she appreciates the change of pace I just gave her.
If I can remember correctly, one book even ascribes a person's creative juices with their inner child. Do I think this true - heck, I have of late, been writing articles of the comics I like so much and have had the great opportunity to have these articles published in a well-known fan web site. So is it a creative endeavor that can be connected to said inner-child... I'd think so.
So here's a toast (a grown up tendency - and a Toastmaster's natural capability) to my inner-child. A definite part of me. I would even further posit this part to be the creative, fun-loving part of me... one that I would probably be considered as a Scrooge, should I not have had the opportunity to use.
Hmm... that may very well be another great example right there. Who's to say that the story of Scrooge was actually a story of rediscovery - where Mr. Scrooge, and old, sorry, creepy rich man, finally found (or I should say rediscovered) the spirit of giving gifts and the joy of Christmas - a child's favorite holiday, I must add.
I'm proud of my inner-child, i wish him more happiness, more enjoyment, more discoveries to find and look in awe - it prevents me from being too jaded in a very jaded world. It gives me reason to trust, to believe in Santa Clause (yes, I still do - though its more my becoming one, and my body sure seems to reciprocate with the idea), and the Tooth Fairy (too bad all my teeth are permanent) and yes - share these beliefs with my kids.
My inner-child allows me to relate with my kids. Now... I'm off to play. 'Til next time...
