There is nothing like an innocent child looking at the world with wonder and delight. Of the many ‘rights of passage’ as we pass from the innocence of childhood into the responsibilities of adulthood, going away to overnight camp was one of my favorites.
I remember my Mom taking me to the bus and feeling excited and scared all at the same time. As the bus pulled away the excitement quickly took over and I was ready for an adventure into the unknown. How many of us remember the feeling of leaving home for the first time to parts unknown? In many ways this is not so far from the feelings we get now as we enter into a new relationship, business venture or something seemingly as simple as moving. Our lives will be forever changed yet at that moment we don’t know how.
Through the challenges of life we lose a bit of our innocence and no longer see the world through rose-colored glasses yet every time we have a major life change or are about to start a new adventure the innocence, excitement and fear returns. Of course we have the knowledge behind us (hopefully) and will use it but what if we could harness the wide-eyed wonder of a child and not leave it behind? What would happen if life was filled with hope like it was when we were children? The world is indeed changing but maybe it’s time we try to preserve a little of our own innocence for our children. They grow up all too fast these days.
Today I was delighted to receive pictures of my niece from the first day of her (first) trip to overnight camp. Now I’m pretty sure this wasn’t how camp was when I went! No one was taking pictures and video day in and day out to post on a private website for parents so they can see their little munchkins enjoying themselves. I’m not sure if I agree with it or not because it’s reminiscent of reality TV but it is a great way to keep the parents in the know about their kids. (I also don’t remember a salad bar option or zip lining, but I digress.) Maybe it’s also a small way of preserving the innocence and bringing us back to our own joy through the eyes of a child if only for a moment.
While looking at the photos I saw breaking news about a shooting at Texas A & M. Here I sat looking at pictures of a shining, happy 10-year-old and remembering how fun it was to be at camp with no responsibilities other than those of having fun and making s’mores around a campfire. I was quickly reminded of a world where a select few think it’s ok to shoot and kill another human being. What happened to the innocence and joy they were born with? Anger and hate begets anger and hate. Fighting for peace is simply an oxymoron and there are too many with an angry agenda. There are people in this world who have been through horrific experiences yet they find peace within themselves and go on to do amazing, loving and peaceful acts. After their trials and tribulations they somehow find a way to reconnect with the beauty of life. They inspire us and honor themselves and us by living a loving life.
The world around us is changing so rapidly it’s hard to keep up and its time we put out into the world the change we’d like to see. Not through fighting, politics and debate based on lies and untruths but through the thing we know more intimately than anything else in the world; Our own energy vibration. Think about how you spend your day and take a hard look at the vibration you are emitting into the universe. Is it positive? Negative? Happy? Sad? You may be in for an awakening if you listen to the words you speak and how you react to things around you.
Maybe it’s time to bring back a little innocence and simple joy to our lives. When was the last time you sat around a campfire making s’mores and singing Kumbaya (see video below) or laying in the grass looking at the clouds as they form castles in the sky? When was the last time you looked at the mountains or trees and simply breathed in their beauty? Maybe it’s time to reconnect with the joy and innocence that is still a part of you….Imagine what the world would be like if we all did this every once an a while.~Shine Your Light Debbie
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vRUppJ2TIc?rel=0]
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