I am a fully grown adult. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to grow any taller, despite all I wanted to be when I grew up was to be tall. I pay my bills and taxes, which is such a pain.
Despite all this I am still, essentially, an overgrown child.
I love spending my days off reading or watching cartoons. I would rather spend my hard earned money on neat toys and Lego, because that is so much more fun than budgeting.
I still go to work everyday, but then I go home and binge watch a season of “Batman The Animated Series” because it brings me joy.
That is what is important here. Sure, I do all the regular boring stuff adults do, but it doesn’t bring me joy.
Collecting new toys for my “Shrine of Awesome” - which is basically anything I think is cool that I display prominently in my house - does.
Building new Lego masterpieces makes me both happy and frustrated.
I rewatch “Sailor Moon”, all 200 episodes, at least once a year, because I love it even after 20 years.
There is nothing wrong with being a little childish in your life, if it brings you happiness. Living day-to-day without anything else isn’t going to make you happy and make life worth living.
Just because something seems to be for kids, like Disney movies or comic books or Pokemon, why does that mean as an adult we can’t enjoy them as well?
We may like new or different parts of distinctly childish things.
For example: as a child my favourite character on the animated show “Digimon” was Kari. She was light and bubbly, she cared for everyone and always saw the good in people - and Digimon. Now as an adult I love her because I recognize there is more to the character. She has depression and hides it with her light and bubbly personality. She cares deeply for others because sometimes she feels left out.
This is something I’ve seen as an adult and wouldn’t have even thought about as a child.
And it makes me love the show and characters all the more.
Embracing your inner child makes life easier, I think. Think about how a child lives its life. It is pure and simple. Sometimes, as an adult, we need to also live in a pure and simple way.
Maybe for you, your childish love isn’t cartoons or toys. Maybe you love baseball and collecting baseball cards.
If that’s the case, get out and throw the ball around, go see a game. Get excited about baseball and don’t be shy about it.
If you love collecting baseball cards go to conventions, people at conventions love to talk about the things they love. Trust me.
Is there a book you loved as a kid or teen? Re-embrace it. You never know, it could easily stand the test of time. Rereadinga beloved book for the first time in ages brings back memories and emotions you probably didn’t even know was connectedto this book.
A favourite way of mine to let loose and bring out my inner child is to play games with friends. The competitive atmosphere is indulged with adult beverage (sometimes) instead of sugary pop, but the feeling is still there.
When I play games with a group of my friends, whether card games, board games or something simple like trivia, I am just overwhelmingly happy. In fact, some of my best memories from adulthood so far come from long night of playing dumb games with my friends.
It shouldn’t be embarrassing if it is something you love.
And if you love it, embrace it.
Feeling stressed? Take some time to yourself and colour a picture. To appeal to the adult brain, scientific studies show colouring reduces stress and releases endorphins.
Feeling claustrophobic and antsy? Go outside for a walk or a bike ride.
Going through the motions of daily life can pull you down and make you more and more unhappy. Embracing childish things, colouring, toys or what have you, brings you happiness if it is what you love.
I love my hobbies, and while they may seem childish I am not going to stop watching cartoons, especially on Saturday morning. I’m not going to stop collecting and reading comic books or playing games.
These things make me happy, and in a world that has so many things to bring you down, any bit of happiness is important.
Embrace what you love, embrace your inner child and love without restraint.