It's Never Too Late to Have a Happy Childhood

When I first heard the quote by Tom Robbins, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood,” it made me smile.  

I also quickly realized it can be misunderstood.  For some, the idea of “childhood” brings up difficult memories.  Are we really able to go back and make our childhood happy? No, sadly, that’s not possible. Our past is what it is. The troubles or difficult childhood memories cannot be fixed, changed, or made happier. What this quote is saying is, now is not too late to enjoy some childlike events or happenings. This quote is about allowing yourself to have the childhood type of joy going forward.

Remembering what once brought you joy

Take a moment and think back. What did you love as a child?  What made you lose track of time? What did you dream about doing, simply because it was fun? Can you allow any small part of that into your life today?

My husband and I recently purchased e-bikes.  I was so surprised to watch how much joy this brought to him!  He would ride way ahead of me, loving the freedom and the simple fun of riding bike again. This helped remind me that childhood joys don’t have to be complicated. Sitting outside watching clouds drift by or allowing yourself to do something with no purpose other than enjoyment is wonderful for your well being!

Young grandchildren help us with this.  If you’re blessed to have a few in your life, you can relate.  They like throwing the football around, they think coloring is fun, and they laugh easily while doing simple things.  If you play with them, you are participating in those moments of childhood fun that you may have forgotten about.

Simple childhood joys are finding their way back into adult life.  Coloring books for adults, for example, have become surprisingly popular again. When I worked in a corporate setting, they gave us color books as a method to handle stress (while on break of course!).  Activities like coloring, paint by number, drawing, small crafts, or other easy creative expressions can calm the mind and bring a sense of peace and focus.

Laughter, movement, and letting go

Children laugh fully, freely, and without hesitation.  Did that kind

of laughter disappear as we aged? Maybe we just stopped allowing it.

The same is true for movement. I love watching how a toddler responds to music. They don’t analyze it or hesitate, they simply move. Allowing yourself to dance, laugh, create, or play without worrying how it looks brings laughter and peace back into our present day. 

When no one else is home, try putting on a song and move to the beat, whether you look good while doing it or not! I've noticed that this type of movement raises my vibration or joy level, without even thinking about it. These moments reconnect us to the feeling of being alive, curious, and free, and they matter more to our overall well being than we know.

Experiencing childlike moments

Rather than going back to put joy into our past, let's move forward differently. We can choose joy on purpose, especially in small ways. If you're riding a bike, coloring a page, dancing in your kitchen, or laughing with someone you love, those moments add up. And the beautiful part? You can start anytime. I encourage you to start today. It truly is never too late.

Courage Daily Life Coaching is available at The Marsh.

Sometimes life throws you off balance. For a place to feel safe, fully heard, and gently supported as you move forward, connect with Linda at https://www.couragedaily.com/contact