“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” — William Stafford
What a wonderful quote. If there’s one thing I regret about getting older it’s that I no longer have that innocence and zeal. To hear the music where none exists doesn’t happen as often as I’d like any more. To approach every experience in life with energy, with open-hearted and open-minded exuberance is an instinct that set sail a long time ago.
Sad that in adulthood we become so serious. If we could only allow ourselves to see the world as it would be through the eyes of a child. In those baby blues, chocolate browns or vivid greens there is awe and wonder over every blade of grass or fragile snowflake. Inquisitiveness opens their mind to possibilities and innocence to belief. Children don’t need to be told to dance as if no one’s watching. And they always hear the different drummer.
Most importantly in those eyes, there is never a reason not to party.
This past weekend, we celebrated a big milestone for my hubby with an intimate gathering at our daughter’s home. It was a surprise and to say the guest of honour was less than amused would be an understatement. The man was seriously not happy.
Until, that is, he saw the look on our grandchildren’s faces as we came in the door. Beautiful little ones with expressions of such eagerness and excitement. Such pure joy effectively thawed the icy cover he’d tried to hide beneath.
Watching these little ones react and relate to everything is a pastime of which I never tire. On this day, the unadulterated pleasure they showed in being with their cousins warmed my heart. The laughter and giggles, when a sudden rain fell on their outside play, spread sunshine. The delight in helping Papa blow out his candles, their wonder in chocolate cake with icing and a big healthy scoop of ice cream, was a reminder that there is satisfaction to be found in the simplest things.
So, yes, kids and their outlook on life, or lack thereof, is awesome. And with Halloween around the corner, we will get to see it first hand over and over again.
It begins with the tiny knock on the door, followed by my grumbling because I have to leave the supper preparations, then clean-up, or finally my couch yet one more time. However, as I open the door, all of the grumbling is gone, replaced instead by the sappiest “Awwww….” How could I not feel my mood lift. After all, there they are, the most perfect princesses, or darling Draculas. Regardless of the costume, whether witch, unicorn or fairy, each and every one of them is beyond adorable.
And in return for my saccharine welcome, despite the fact that this isn’t their first stop, the proffered candy elicits wide-eyed wonder and shy smiles. Then, selection made, they turn and dance down the porch steps, the only accompaniment the voices of other happy children skipping their way along the street.
In coming to a decision about what kind of collection I could highlight in this poast today, there really seemed to be only one thing that held the same sense of fun as time in the company of children does. There’s plenty of that to be found in these cute animations from AnimationFactory
