Practices of the Carefree

Seems like I hear "Enjoy being a kid while you can!" quite often, usually followed by a heavy sigh of resignation from a worn out adult. While the real world pulls us away from the innocent wonder found in the Neverland of childhood, we don't have to succumb to the crabbiness of Captain Hook and his mates. Even in the midst of heavy life stuff, we can maintain an element of carefree. I've recently tested this theory.

Here are five ways to practice being carefree (and some throwback pics for fun!):

1. Scribble Something -- Something about the back + forth rhythms of coloring with a crayon or doodling with a pencil is quite therapeutic. I survived college finals this way! Grab a pencil or pen and doodle; look for a highlighter or sharpie at your desk and fill a blank page with something; dig a broken crayon out of the couch and color. Whatever you can get your hands on: doodle, color, draw, paint. Don't knock it until you've tried it, Captain Hook!

2. Swing Somewhere-- Remember how delightful it was to stretch your feet all the way toward heaven, hopeful to snag the corner of a cloud? Head to the nearest playground and pump those legs, allowing the breeze to peel the worries and stresses away for just a minute. If you're worried about being a dignified adult, it takes pixie dust and happy thoughts to fly!

3. Jump on Your Bed-- Oh, your mom won't see! I worried about breaking my bed. Sure the comforter gets messed up, but there's something about the jumping (and maybe the "not supposed to" factor)that lifts 50 pounds off the shoulders! If you aren't able to jump, refer to the other four ways to be a kid again.

I know she’s not sitting weird, but isn’t she cute!?!!

4. Sit Weird -- Kinsley recently read somewhere (probably Pinterest -- so it must be true!) that laying on the floor with your feet kicked up against the wall will help you relax and reduce your stressful feelings. My kids are always sitting weird -- if you can still bend those ways, sit in the weird position you enjoyed as a kid (upside down, half on/half off the couch, etc). Read a book or flip through a magazine or do nothing sitting in that special position. Silly + simple = Neverland Goodness.

5. Do something you love-- that you haven't done in forever. Maybe it's journaling, bike riding, cliff jumping, hiking, baking, reading. There are a thousand options, but you know just the one speaking to the fibers of who you are. There's always an excuse not to, but the excuses don't bring the carefree you crave.

For me, working and making with my hands changes me from uptight to fully relaxed in minutes. I recently spent all of five minutes finishing up a stitching project I'd let sit for months. When I got up to move to the things I had to do, I felt lighter, more motivated + energetic than I'd felt in a long time. Reconnecting with something we were made to love goes miles in strengthening us for whatever canon balls are launched our way.

Kids naturally plunge themselves into the wonder of simple, little things. The openness to what's in front of them nurtures their souls and lightens their living. If you crave a little more of the carefree Neverland in your days, de-robe yourself of the heavy for just a few minutes and nurture what's in front of you.

Thanks for reading these earth-shattering tips (ahem!). But really, they work! Let me know if you try any of them!