The escalator moved quietly, perfectly executing it’s purpose in life… taking us from one floor to another. We rode together, my heart wrapped around my daughter next to me, and her arms wrapped around her doll. Her very special, and new, American Girl doll who looks as much like my daughter as any toy could.
“I wish I could choose any age,” the words poured out of her lips a few seconds before I caught the meaning of them. My mind was somewhere else, but the sound of her voice brought me back to her and as I still processed what she said, the sound slip through my own lips, “Oh?”
“I would be six.”
It was more a statement, like the thoughts had been properly sifted before coming out into the big world.
“And why six?” I asked.
“Because it’s just fun.” Her reply was sweetly frank, there was no other reason than the craving to play and enjoy.
I remember it well, that tug-o-war between the carefree, laid back bliss that comes with young age and the ability to do more, see more, adventure on beyond the arms of comfort that came as the numbers on our age clock tick toward higher numbers.
Even with all that freedom to fly and be who we want to be, there was a draw… a draw to the simple comfort of that carefree bliss, of not worrying about what decisions to make next or what responsibilities lurk around the corner.
That day with my girl (or at least most of it) we played hard and let go of the “shoulds” in order to truly enjoy the moments. We drifted between what defined the norm of our ages and what we wanted to be. We didn’t let the numbers on a calendar or clock construct our day.
And here’s where the real balance comes in, because the more I think about how I related to her sentiments and feelings, the more I realize that this mindset is so easy for us all… For the rest of our lives, no matter what age (I mean come on, how often do we all wish to be a different age… or a different anything, you can totally fill in the blank!). There is a draw to what is comfortable, and while that is good and well for a day of rest or moments of play together, there is a danger in slinking away from who we truly are, where we are in life and what we have to offer. You see, we can find freedom and let go of the cares that can attach themselves to responsibility while simultaneously owning who we are.
“Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. And as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Marianne Williamson
Friends, I hope these words just melt into your soul, bringing freedom to every part of you. Be who you are, bravely and fiercely… even when it is just being fun and wacky.
We all face challenges, we all long for the comfort of living on easy street and yet when we consistently choose the comfort of what we’ve known because it’s easy or shy away from being our true self to blend in to what we see around us, we’re robbing our own lives and those in our lives from our greatest potential.
I want to hear the #1 STRUGGLE holding you back from being you, from the freedom of flying at your own height, speed and pace… because truly living carefree actually goes hand-in-hand with letting go and enjoying who you are. Share below, so we can encourage each other.
Together, we can overcome…
xo
Photos in this post were taking on my iPhone and some were shared on Instagram, come find me!
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