Life's Challenges

When did life's fun challenges become frustrations? When I was little, I remember being the kind of kid who wanted to do everything myself. I insisted on it. Even if I couldn't do it exactly perfect, I wanted to try. That is how kids learn, isn't it? Exploring and playing in a safe atmosphere where we are applauded for our creativity and resilience.

At what age does that get sucked out of people and replaced by fear? Many adults, including myself, fear challenges, fear making mistakes and definitely fear playing. When our peers don't laugh with us and think we are cute when we put our clothes on inside out or backwards, it is disconcerting. It seems blending in and conformity is the norm. There is only one way to do things correctly and anything that diverges from that is "failure".

Where I work a square peg always has to go into the square hole. There is nothing cute about trying to put a triangle (or a piece of bologna) into a round hole. The pressure is great to stifle that sort of creativity.

Today, I am trying to view everyone at work as they were when they were three years old. I know that three year old is still there in all of us (I can smell the wet diapers.)- just waiting for a safe nurturing environment to express themselves.

I think today, I will suggest that next Friday be "Wear your clothes backwards day." I wonder how many people would be brave enough to play.