As I've gotten older, feeling nostalgic about my childhood has come in waves. When I started high school, I reminisced about when my academic and personal lives were simpler. However, as the end of high school neared, I found myself going back and fondly revisiting many of the things that defined my childhood, such as "High School Musical," "Harry Potter," and "Spongebob." This nostalgia dissipated once I started college and discovered a whole new world of activities. However, as my fourth and final undergrad year looms in the near future, I feel that it's important once again to remind myself that, no matter how old I get, I still enjoy basically the same things that I did when I was a kid.
1. Riding a merry-go-round
I've been eating lunch outside when I can this summer, and there just so happens to be a carousel right across the street from my office. I may have grown out of some traditionally "little kid" rides at amusement parks, but even now I'll never refuse a ride on a merry-go-round. There's something inherently charming about sitting on a painted horse and riding around in a circle while listening to cheerful carnival music. Plus, there are usually adorable babies riding with their parents just a few horses away, which always brightens my day.
2. Playing catch with your dad in the backyard
When I first started following baseball in elementary school, my dad gave me his old baseball glove and taught me and my sisters how to throw and catch a baseball in our backyard. Almost 13 years later, my dad and I still break out our gloves and a ball every so often when I'm home. I know that traditionally fathers play catch with their sons, but when I'm older, I'd love to be that mom that breaks the mold and teaches her kids how to play catch.
3. Reading for pleasure, constantly
I know a lot of my friends can speak to this, but as soon as I got to college it felt like all the time I might have to read for fun suddenly evaporated. However, this summer I've vowed to read a book every two or three weeks, and it's been wonderful rediscovering the voracious reading appetite that I had as a kid. College may have a lot of academic reading that takes up my time, but considering all the time I spend on YouTube, I definitely feel that I could read more for fun at school.
4. Frolicking around a playground with your friends
Playgrounds are, literally, all fun and games, and when there are no younger kids around it can be quite enjoyable to hang around a playground with college-age friends. Just make sure you don't go at night, even if it sounds like a fun, rebellious idea, because sooner than you can yell "tag! you're it!" you may come face-to-face with a police officer telling you to leave.
5. Riding your bike around the neighborhood
Before I went on a study abroad trip to Denmark and Sweden, I hadn't ridden a bike probably since I was 10 or 11. Luckily, as I found out, once you learn how to ride a bike you really never forget it. If you're in a quiet neighborhood with relatively little traffic, bike riding can be a very relaxing leisure activity. If you live close to your job or school, consider biking occasionally instead of driving. You may find that, when you're not worried about surrounding traffic, it's a refreshing way to clear your head en route to your destination.
6. Blowing bubbles, with either a small or large wand
No matter how old you are, bubbles will never not be fun. They liven up outdoor activities, get soap all over your hands, and lead to gleeful laughter over the silliness of it all. I always think of Bubble Buddy from "Spongebob" whenever I find myself blowing bubbles, which further adds to their nostalgic childhood appeal.
7. Splashing around in the pool on a hot day
Though I used to enjoy pool noodles and diving boards when I went in the pool, now if I'm in a pool I'd rather just lie on my back and float for as long as I can. But I'd still rather take a dip in the hotel pool while on vacation, even if it's filled with little kids, than lounge on a chair and pretend to be cooling off. Even if you're not a seasoned swimmer, pools are for everyone.
8. Mini-golfing with your friends or family
I have never played real golf, nor do I really intend to take it up as a hobby, but I always enjoy a round of mini golf. There are few things more satisfying than getting a hole-in-one on what the course deems "by far the hardest hole." I still judge people who keep score when they're playing mini golf, though, because really there's just no point in noting whether you took three, four, or five strokes to hit the ball through the windmill.
9. Run through the sprinkler on a hot day
Passing by a neighborhood sprinkler is annoying if you're dressed up, but on a super hot day, a sprinkler can cool you off nicely. It's not as satisfying as jumping in a pool, but if you're not worried about your clothes getting wet, take the opportunity to cool off and linger a bit as you walk by your neighbor's sprinkler. No one will bat an eye, especially if it's 100 degrees outside with 100% humidity.
10. Going to the local library just for fun
Even now, when I spend much of the academic year holed up studying in libraries, I still enjoy going to my local library in the summer. Whether it's browsing the bookshelves, checking the events calendar, or looking for old CDs to add to my iTunes library, I still get a lot of enjoyment out of a quick trip to the library. As a kid, I would go to the children's room at the library and spend hours just looking around and reading entire books while I was there. Though many useful resources are now online, for me, visiting the library will never lose its charm.
As kids get older, they tend to reject many of the activities they loved when they were younger, and call them "babyish" or "lame." But, just because little kids find something fun, doesn't mean that a college student can't also find it fun. The more in-touch you are with your exuberant younger self, the more joy you'll get out of life in general, and the more likely it is that your younger cousins will deem you "the fun cousin." Which I think is always a prestigious title to hold.
