The absolute JOY of a child

I took a day of vaca today and decided I was truly going to do whatever I really wanted to do. That started with sleeping in, followed by a long walk on a beautiful morning, just listening to the sounds of nature and life around me. Soon after turning the corner from my street, I noticed a noise which was very out of place---kind of like a rhythmic loud squeaking/pounding sound, yet very metallic. As I kept walking, and the volume grew, I finally noticed a young boy on a trampoline in his backyard, bouncing up and down with a huge pile of leaves in the middle. He was oblivious to my attention, but he bounced and bounced with what appeared to be just the absolute joy of doing it. So simple. Such simple pleasure was obvious. I found myself wishing that I could join him. Better yet, that I had my own trampoline and could just bounce up and down for the sheer joy of it. I started thinking about the simplicity of life for a child---yet it never seems so when you are the one living it. And yet, also, I thought about how sad it is that we have given up these simple pleasures. Why is it that I wouldn't even consider doing such a thing such as bouncing on a trampoline? When did something like that become 'improper' for me to do? Does it ever become 'improper' really or is it only in my mind?


I often say that internally I really don't feel older than I was at the age of 17. Somehow I chose that age as the one of self-awareness that I wanted to hold on to. Yet there are lots of things I don't do now that I did at 17 (some for obvious reasons). When did I give up the fun stuff? Today I am challenging myself to do something just for the fun of it! Enjoy your life today! I'm reading: The absolute JOY of a childTweet this!