It didn’t reach my knees, tulle billowed at my waist, and sparkles covered my chest. Curly brown hair stretched to reach my shoulders with big, brown eyes to match. There was no time for makeup; I didn’t notice any flaws. The red dress and a wide smile filled the mirror leaving no room for criticism or self-degradation. Five-year-old Sarah didn’t see the flaws that twenty-one-year-old Sarah does.

I would roll out of bed, wander into the kitchen, with unkempt hair and wrinkled pajamas. Buttermilk pancakes dowsed in syrup would fill my belly as I became filled with anticipation of the day to come. We would throw on clothing, run a brush through our hair, and run outside. In the summer, it was running through the sprinkler in the backyard that soon turned into a swamp. In the winter, it was sledding down the hill and drinking hot chocolate.

Laughter was contagious and tears were only shed after a bad fall. Going to bed was a challenge when my mind was filled with adventures and the desire to explore.

I danced on the beach in a red dress without a care in the world. It didn’t matter how much space I took up, who was watching, or what others thought. Being in the moment was more than enough.

Channel your younger self that didn’t wear matching clothing, ate too many pancakes, turned backyards into jungles, and lived life every day.