Lessons from my Inner Child
+ journal prompts to connect with your own Inner Child
My fondest memories as a child were in two places - my backyard and under my bed.
My backyard was a complete oasis, guarded by lines of tall, nearly cylindrical cedars. I would often lay on the rich soil between the trees on the rich soil, breathing up from the roots and feeling myself held by the earth. Near the back fence was a raspberry patch which became the backdrop for my imaginary kitchen. I opened a backyard bakery specializing in mud pies, flooding holes of soil and picking up handfuls to create the delicate concoction.
My bed frame had a few drawers for storing toys (Polly Pockets, if you recall) and the most unique feature of all - a tunnel. With the addition of a shag carpet, this truly felt like a cave of wonders. I would spend hours with a small lamplight reading A Series of Unfortunate Events, Great Illustrated Classics and Royal Diaries until beckoned to remove myself. It was in this dimly lit cavern I travelled through my imagination and created worlds in my mind.
I felt most myself when I was in nature, dreaming, creating. When I feel lost in the world, I return to these memories, locations and what I learned about myself through these experiences.
Lessons from my Inner Child
Have fun. Remember to laugh with your whole body. Don’t take life too seriously - it’s meant to be lived and enjoyed whole heartedly.
Make home in nature. Time in nature is never wasted. Let the land speak to you. Listen.
Dream about the future without getting caught up in the HOW. Just let yourself imagine. Freedom begins in the mind.
Reading is the beginning of inspiration. Don’t lose the pleasure of it. Let yourself get lost in it. You’ll find yourself.
What you love doesn’t have to have a purpose. You can actually just love it for the sake of loving it. It’s important that you do.
Dancing and singing are good ways to be silly and expressive. Skip through meadows and gasp in delight at the world.
Be yourself. As weird as can be.
Your Inner Child is always waiting to connect with you - they have so much wisdom to share. To start listening, start asking.
What is most original to you? What has always been true about you?
What have you forsaken in yourself? What do you need to return to?
What brings you the simplest and purest joy? Do more of it.