April 9, 2008
REDISCOVERING CHILDHOOD GIFTS

I want to grow up to be a child. Seriously! I know how ludicrous this may sound (and friends would likely affirm
I have already attained this goal) yet I am convinced that the essence of childhood is what I long for!

What awoke me to this desire? A friend and I were recently pondering "what I want to be when I grow up".
There are some pretty amazing possibilities within reach awaiting my willingness to move forward. However, I
still manage to create excuses and dream up challenges thus keeping one foot in less desirable places while
the other s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s to leap into the uncertain certainty. No wonder my body aches for change.

To help me gain a different perspective, my friend suggested that I think of, name and describe an individual
who embraces the qualities I associate with for authentically walking their talk, those individuals who have
boldly responded to their callings. A few names quickly came to mind: Byron Katie, Gandhi, Mother Theresa…
I paused…and then excitedly screamed …"FERNANDA!!!". "Who's Fernanda???" she inquired, looking quite puzzled. Fernanda is a spunky, confident, kind, thoughtful, considerate, fun, generous, friendly, wise, aware, creative, sensitive, authentic, honest, 2nd grader who lights up a room with her presence! Fernanda embodies the qualities I seek to know within myself.

There is so much we can learn from children. Their wit, wisdom and way of being offer some of the most vital instructions for living from the inside out. With receptive hearts and hands, children entertain and explore all possibilities without reservation or ambiguity. Emanating a carpe diem attitude, they devote themselves to learn, grow, play and engage in an awakened and heightened state of consciousness. Endowed with an exuberant life force, children delight in bringing forth their highest capacities by listening and responding to their own rhythms as well as honoring dreams and daydreams.

Fortunately, I am gifted daily with the opportunity of interning in the school of life known as childhood. Every moment, my teachers (children) invite me to experience the majesty and magnificence of childhood. Never a
day goes by without a child personally handing me their generous gifts on a silver platter. All that is required is
to receive. This is what I have noticed and gleaned from Fernanda et al.

While we try to teach our children all about life,
our children teach us what life is all about. Angela Schwindt

1. THE PRESENT MOMENT IS ALL THERE IS. Children recognize that every day is a NEW day filled with unlimited possibilities. With no attachment to the past or worries about tomorrow, their enthusiastic pursuit of personal interests and priorities drives them to accomplish the most important things NOW. Living in the
present moment means full awareness and profound appreciation of life as it exists right here, right now. As presence practitioners, children know how to squeeze the maximum out of each moment and savor the
juiciness of timelessness. Children fully understand what mystic William Blake eloquently describes: "Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour."

2. BE WILLING TO GIVE IT A GO. Children are always exploring the limits of their abilities. Observe how
youth on a playground defy gravity and torque their bodies into positions that evoke a deeper appreciation for
our extraordinary capacities. The NIKE slogan "JUST DO IT" is inherently imprinted on their soul - and they
know it! "Failure" and "can't" are not a part of their vocabulary, FAITH and PERSEVERANCE are. With an abiding belief to continue in spite of obstacles, they invent new ways to try again, again and again. There are
no mistakes, only new opportunities for new experiments. Giving up would mean never growing to their full potential.

3. SEE THE WORLD WITH WONDER. From a child's perspective, the world is awe-inspiring, filled with magic, miracles and the mysterious. Perpetual wonder exists everywhere and in everything. Seeing as if it is the first time every time, their hearts are open to the Divine's scintillating surprises. With wide-eyed innocence and a beginner's mind, children are unhesitatingly mesmerized by the marvel of a tiny caterpillar inching along a
branch to the enchantment of a vibrant rainbow sweeping across the sky. Dreams, fantasy, imagination and excitement for the new and the unknown are the sources for realizing possibilities.

4. SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL. Movement is a child's natural state. Tapped in to essential needs, children twist, swing, wiggle, jiggle, kick, bounce, hop, skip, glide, spin, somersault, climb, soar, flip, run, bound,
tumble, jog, hang, rotate, dive, leap, cycle, crawl, dance, and twirl to stimulate, activate and integrate their mental and physical capacities. Children jump for joy at any opportunity to use their entire physiology for developing balance, coordination, agility and reaction. Being action oriented, children learn how to string
actions together, enhance their connection with the rest of the world, broaden self-knowledge of competencies, all while cultivating assurance in their abilities.

5. EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL FRIEND. Children form bonds easily and instantly. They see the value of accepting and including everyone they know and everyone they meet. Clever at initiating projects, children are ambassadors for recruiting involvement and support by merely asking, "Wanna play?" Children innately know that surrounding themselves with friends (even "imaginary" ones) invites variety, companionship, novel ideas, broader opportunities, prospective partnerships, new learning and added delight.

6. ENGAGE ALL YOUR SENSES. Children perceive the world through their senses. They naturally engage
their ears, eyes, nose, tongue and whole body to hear, see, smell, taste, feel and touch as portals for relating with themselves and their environment. Involving body, mind, senses and receptors, children totally immerse
their entire existence into every experience and wholeness becomes the course for transformation.

7. PLAY AND HAVE FUN. Children instinctively understand the value of play and having a great time. Play nourishes their mind, body and spirit and is an intrinsic and vital part of their development, an opening to their very being. Through play, children: nurture and nourish their capacities, recharge and refresh, learn to negotiate, cultivate social interactions and interpersonal relationships, explore their inner realms, discover passions, unleash creativity and imagination, process emotions and stress, safely explore and search for new information, develop problem-solving skills, experience joy and a general sense of well-being (just to name a few). Playfully doing what you love and loving what you playfully do…a wonderful prescription for being, would you agree?

Laughter is the universal language for uplifting spirits, reducing inhibitions and expanding the heart. Children generally laugh at least 100 times more per day than adults do. They are geniuses for creating pleasurable
ways to be silly, entertaining, whimsical, amusing, goofy, giggly, and downright a blast! Children know they
are meant to be happy, joyous and free-spirited!

8. BE COURIOUSLY CURIOUS. Born curious, the world provides children with a wealth of opportunities to explore, question, investigate and discover. Curiosity is essential for learning and growing. As skilled researchers, children poke, probe and prod, unearthing seeds for new projects and deeper inquiry. Notorious
for sessions of rapid-fire questions paired with an insatiable thirst for active experimentation, children's inquisitiveness stretches the boundaries of the mind and makes life deliciously interesting, adventurous and inspirational.

9. CREATE SOMETHNG NEW, DIFFERENT, ORIGINAL. An inner current of creativity flows within every child inviting them to see novel possibilities in ordinary circumstances. Detached from adulterated results, they
totally absorb themselves in the colorful process of their creative spirit and distinctive style. Utilizing the energy of self-expression, children are inventive, resourceful, imaginative, innovative problem-solvers, original thinkers, and visionaries for forging new paths, communicating fresh ideas and making something out of anything.

10. SHARE YOUR GIFTS WITH THE WORLD. Inside every child is a treasure trove of countless gifts seeking full expression. Acknowledging their sacred contract of fulfilling their unique role in the grand design, children absolutely KNOW they were born to bloom in God's glorious garden. Instead of waiting for opportunities to show up, children meet and greet the world with unbounded joy for authentic contribution. Assured there will never be anyone else in the world who can bestow their precious gifts in the exact same way they can, children understand the value of not withholding that which is theirs to give.

Adults are always asking children what they want to be when they grow up -
it's because they're looking for ideas. Paula Poundstone

If I shared the hesitations/excuses for not following my heart's burning desires with Fernanda, Sergio, Jocelyn, Dominick, Anita and the rest of my youth-full "life coaches", I'm certain they'd say, "That's messed up!" After gathering companions to champion my dreams, they'd likely invite (more likely gently grab and pull) me into a forward sprint of unabashed playful enthusiasm for launching adventures on my path of passion, magically transforming life.

The spirit of a child still resides within each of us regardless of our "less than perfect" childhood. Call forth and rekindle your childlike qualities. Have fun, be spontaneous, live in a state of continual discovery, rediscover the pleasures of play, maintain a sense of wonder, view the world through fresh eyes, and take every opportunity to experience something new. Spend time with children often. Observe, listen, sense. Unquestionably, they will teach you more than you teach them if your heart, mind and soul are open to the learning.

In memory of:
Bryon Peacock (17 years of age) and
Rosalinda Chavez Tapia (2nd grade)
whose lives passed too quickly in December 2007.
Your radiant smiles and brilliant presence still shine in my heart.
Whenever I feel meek or timid about showing up in life, I know I can tap into the boldness
you imprinted on my soul. Thank you for sharing the gift of YOU with me and the world.
Lovingly forever in my heart…

With childlike joy and a playful spirit,
Adrian Reznik

Copyright © 2008 Adrian Reznik