Somewhere along the way, we stop being kids. Not in the way that life demands—where responsibility calls, bills pile up, and people count on us—but in a way that steals the joy of simply being. We stop laughing as loud, stop running just because it feels good, and stop seeing the world as a place of endless possibility. Instead, we start measuring ourselves against expectations, worrying about how we’re perceived, and filtering out the parts of us that don’t seem “adult enough.”
But here’s the thing—being a kid doesn’t have to stop just because you’ve grown up.
The Magic of Little Things
Remember when little things used to matter? When a funny-shaped rock could become a treasure, or a swing set felt like flying? As adults, we tend to dismiss those small joys as unimportant, caught up in the bigger picture of careers, relationships, and survival. But the truth is, the little things are the big things. A perfectly skipped rock, a deep belly laugh, or the smell of rain on pavement—those moments hold more life than most of the things we stress over.
Kids live in the present. They don’t dwell on the past or lose sleep over the future. They get lost in moments, in wonder, in play. And we could all use a little more of that.
Embarrassment Is the Enemy
As we grow up, we start filtering ourselves. We hold back from singing loudly in the car, from jumping into puddles, from saying what’s really on our minds—because what if we look stupid? What if we’re judged? What if we break the unspoken rule that adults should be put together at all times?
But here’s a secret: Nobody really has it together. And the people who seem the happiest? They’re the ones who’ve stopped caring what the world thinks and started living for themselves.
Kids aren’t embarrassed to be themselves. They dance even if they’re bad at it. They tell wild stories with full confidence. They wear costumes to the grocery store just because. Maybe we should, too.
Who Were You Before the World Told You Who to Be?
Think back to yourself as a kid—before life told you to act a certain way, before responsibilities crowded your mind. What did you love? What lit you up? What made you feel free?
That version of you still exists. Maybe they just need an invitation to come out and play again.
So be a little silly. Wear the bright colors. Make a wish on a dandelion. Laugh too loud. And remember—growing up is inevitable, but forgetting how to be a kid? That’s a choice.
Choose to remember.
Photo by Nik Schmidt
