Growing up is one of the few guarantees in life, I suppose, like
hunger and jaywalking. Everyone has to grow up. From an early age, we know this
to be fact. But I've decided that I refuse.
I refuse to stop laughing at childish jokes for fear of being labeled "immature."
I refuse to stop wrestling with my little brother despite the fact that he's almost taller than I am.
I refuse to stop asking seemingly obvious questions because I don't want to look stupid or uneducated.
I refuse to stop keeping secrets or eating ice cream for dinner or crying at movies.
But does that really mean I haven't grown up? Are activities such as these so inherently tied to childhood that we can't continue them far into adulthood?
I don't think so. I'm sure many will agree with me when I say that having fun in "childish ways" isn't always just for children. Leaving behind tantrums and whining is all well and good, but that spark, that enthusiasm, that pure fearlessness often only found in children, is something we adults could find very useful in our everyday lives.
For example, I, like the majority of people, am not a natural-born public speaker. Until late high school, I was mortified at even the thought of getting up in front of my peers to speak. I remember one instance in particular when I was in fifth grade and I had to present a book report to both fifth grade classes. I loved the book I had read for the report, and I practiced my presentation with my mother as my audience constantly in the days leading up to it. I even got to dress up as the main character. Despite my preparation and my passion for my subject, my knees were shaking vigorously as I presented, and I cried in the bathroom when it was over.
Now, however, I speak weekly at a meeting of roughly 50 people, perform in musical shows every semester to a packed house, and am willing to strike up conversation with strangers (although that one's still somewhat easier said than done.)
It's not a perfect system, but my trick is to pretend it's all a game. Not in such a way that it doesn't matter, but in a way that I know there's no point in worrying about the outcome because, although I can't completely control the outcome, nothing will happen if I don't try. And worry has never improved my life anyway. So, in a sense, worry is "negative points," speaking to or interacting with a new or relatively new person is "positive points," and making them laugh is "bonus points."
Do I think about points while I'm talking? Well, no. But it's a good place to start. If you're competitive like me, you won't be able to resist a good challenge.
If anything, this way of thinking has shown me that, like when we were kids, we don't have to be afraid of what people think of us. We need to be a little more self-aware, yes, but all that should do is give us the insight that other people are just as afraid to approach us as we are to approach them.
So never stop laughing. Never stop playing games. Never stop asking questions. Believe in that magic you had as a child, and don't even think about leaving it behind.