Why I love to spend time with Children
Children make me completely happy. I am a different person, in a very happy place, totally at ease, when I am with children watching them be themselves, unapologetically. To me, their aura is so pure, their energy, so inspiring and their company completely invigorating.
As I write this, I cannot help but recount this quote from Paulo Coelho
“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”
Anyone who has ever spent a day with a child knows the honesty of this statement and can clearly recount the agony of putting up with a child who wants his way. But despite all their nuances children are capable of bringing utmost joy and happiness to even the coldest of hearts and can teach us in more ways than one to live a happy and fulfilling life.
a) Living in the present – Children live for the now. They have been doing it always, life coaches of the modern adult world, call it mindful living. They play when want to, they don’t worry about their home work when they play, they just enjoy the present moment to the fullest without worrying about the future or obsessing about yesterday.
b) Questioning everything – As adults a lot of things are status quo for us because we fear the consequences of asking questions. We walk the beaten track, avoid thinking outside the box and live a life chained to mundane, outdated tradition. A child on the contrary, questions everything, its curiosity at times is hilarious, sometimes inspiring and more often than not, drives parents up a wall. As adults, it is important for us to learn the art of asking questions and responding respectfully to inquisitive colleagues. To question the status quo and seek out answers, is something we clearly need to learn.
c) Childlike enthusiasm – I see my grandkids, if something catches their fancy, they are so enthused about it. It could just be a butterfly sitting on a flower or their favourite show on TV, their zest is infectious. An important learning for us as adults – to begin without fear or prejudice. When children try something and they fail, they dust themselves and try again. It’s so effortless, because they don’t ever look for validation. They have not yet learnt that failure is shameful. For them failure is a chance to do it differently the next time.
d) Children don’t judge – They do not know the phenomena of discrimination. Have you noticed, how they respond to pure unconditional love irrespective of whom it is coming from? They don’t care if it’s the gardener or driver or maid if they feel the affection, they love them back. A lesson worth learning from these little loveable monsters.
e) They don’t hold grudges – You scold them, and in twenty minutes, they have forgotten the negativity and most probably, are back with the same enthusiasm to demand what they wanted initially. Sometimes their energetic persistence is tiring for us as adults, and I think that’s their strategy, to exhaust us into submission.
We have so much to learn from children. If we can inculcate just a few things from the list above, I am sure, we will become much better individuals, better managers, less stressed, more positive with amplified levels of energy. We will be more productive resulting in greater prosperity. And happiness is a great multiplier, it multiplies productivity, creativity and success. Let’s learn from children this lovely way of living.