10 lessons from children that you can learn about life

10 lessons from children that you can learn about life

What do children know that adults seem to have forgotten? Children are more confident, braver and enjoy life far more intensely than adults. Sometimes it feels like we spend our whole lives trying to get back to who we were as children. Here's what we can learn from our younger selves to bring more clarity and joy into adulthood.

1. Every day is a new beginning.

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes yet?” – L.M. Montgomery.

Wasn't it always amazing how the end of a school day always felt so final, so finished? The break between June and September seemed like a lifetime. Because when you're young, every day feels like an eternity and a new day means new opportunities to make new friends, explore new adventures, learn new things. Children do not carry luggage from one day to the next. They start fresh, always.

2. Creative activities are fun and useful for you.

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

How often do you see kids get lost in a creative project for hours on end? Drawing, playing with clay, building a sandcastle with attention to detail. For some reason, as we get older, we stop seeing creative activities as useful. How many adults besides artists draw regularly? How many play with clay or finger paint just for fun?

3. Be brave.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." – Anais Nin.

Sing out loud. Dance when you feel like it. A child's life feels limitless because it is not limited by fears of failure or humiliation. They move forward with hope and determination because they know it. They have not experienced failure. They embrace life and all it has to offer with open arms.

4. Laugh every day.

"A day without laughter is a day wasted." - Charlie Chaplin

Children have the wonderful ability to find joy all around them. Just observe the humor that a child can find in a shopping mall or in the park. They see fun everywhere.

5. Be active.

"The game energizes us and enlivens us. It lightens our burden. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.” – Stuart Brown

When you were young, playing outside was the highlight of your day. You run and chase your friends until you're out of breath and your cheeks are red. You can jump and do cartwheels on the fall and never thought of it as "exercise" or "daily fitness." Just a game. And it was fun. “It is a happy talent to know how to play.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

6. Nurture the friendship.

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of small things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” – Khalil Gibran

Children find true joy in playing with friends and love to make new ones. They join various sports activities, attend birthday parties, and are open to new acquaintances. These are all ways for kids to make new friends. Children adhere to the motto "the more the merrier" and so do the adults.

7. Be a hero.

“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” – Nora Ephron

When a child tells you a story about school or the soccer field, they are usually the hero of their story. The world revolves around them. As we get older, we don't want to be conceited or selfish, so we downplay our accomplishments. We don't want to brag. But in doing so, we often stray to the side of self-destruction. We put ourselves aside to make others feel better. Modesty becomes an admirable quality and we begin to convince ourselves of our own mediocrity.

8. Scars are badges of honor.

"Every day you see either a scar or courage. Where you live will determine your struggle." - Dodinski

When a child breaks a bone, everyone they know will sign the cast. They become the superstar of the survivor class. If they fall and cut themselves, everyone wants to see the scar, they wear it proudly. As we age, we hide our scars, our wounds become our secrets. We don't want to be seen as weak or pathetic, so we don't tell anyone where it hurts. But what children recognize is that scars are not signs of weakness, a scar is a sign of strength and survival. A story to tell. Achievement.

9. Try new things.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

Children are not afraid to play a sport they have never tried before. They will jump on a trampoline, dive in a pool or ski a mountain, even if it is foreign to them. As adults, we fear the unknown. We stay safely in our comfort zone and rarely step outside. Adventure excites us and awakens our spirit.

10. Notice the little things.

“Enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault

My niece loves watching the sands run back and forth along the water's edge. She notices their little feet and how quickly they move across the sand. Something simple that we take for granted brings her immense joy and deep inspiration. When did we stop noticing the little miracles that surround us on a daily basis? How much more beautiful would life be if we could see these wonders again?