Ah, Childhood

Do you remember being young and innocent? Your whole world was your neighborhood. You knew that there was a friend just a few doors down, ready to play when you were. Your mind was full of dreams to be an astronaut, a veterinarian, a knight, a princess, and so many other things. Every day was full of discovery, and you always had fun. Whether it was playing baseball on the street until sunset, having a tea party with your dolls, or just watching the clouds go by, each day was well spent.

Now? Now we had school taking up time, jobs to get paid, and a myriad of responsibilities on our shoulders. If we had these things when we were five, we'd be overwhelmed. But that's the unfortunate thing with time and age. We become able to handle more, and thus we get more responsibility. And I hate it.

What about the day off? I remember days when my parents would tell me in kindergarten that today I wasn't going to school, but instead we were going to a museum. Or just out to a park for a picnic that day. Those days were always the sweetest for me. School was something of a bore but still fun, yet being out in nature playing when I was supposed to be working was always a great experience.

And then I got a conscience. I matured and ate the forbidden fruit. Now I feel guilty when I skip homework in favour of having fun. I've been saddled with the burdens of helping people with their problems, the world has shown me its darker side with people starving, and my old, blissful neighbourhood appears more ragged around the edges than I remember.

Looking back I wish I could relive the blissful parts of my youth. Seeing the beauty in a bird flying around my yard. Watching leaves fall off the trees for hours. Being able to play in the same backyard for months on end and yet still finding new things about it every day. Testing your limits every day by running, jumping, and doing whatever you can.

But the thing I miss most is not caring what people think. When you were young, you did whatever you wanted, not caring what people thought. If you saw a fence, you climbed it. You saw someone you liked, you ran up and hugged them. Being told that something was a bad thing, you had to test out if it really was.

There were also no stereotypes. Sure girls acted more one way and boys acted another, but there was still overlap. If you wanted to skip, then you went right ahead. Want to play baseball? Well, if you got a mitt and could throw a ball, you could play. There were no races, ethnicities, or barriers. You were just the kid down the street who I was friends with.

Now we have racism instilled in us by our parents and society, all these new stereotypes put on us, and we lose the simplicity that the world was when we were just 5. Our parents are no longer these magical people who can solve every problem we have but turn out to be mortals like ourselves. The world has lost its magic. We no longer think that births are so amazing, and a summer rain loses its allure, because now we know how it all happens.

Well, I don't care. I'm not giving in without a fight. So don't be surprised if you see me staring up at clouds, skipping places, or singing to myself. I'll go for walks at 11 PM when I feel like it. I won't listen to my parents saying "Eating all those sweets is bad for you!" I'll ignore all social conventions. I'm not supposed to drink out of the hose? Too bad! These leaves are filled with bugs? I'm still jumping in them! Yes, this candy just fell in the dirt, but it’s still tasty.

Want to join me in reclaiming my lost bliss? It's not hard. Phone me up one day and we'll skip through the woods together, or just watch the clouds roll by. But, before you hastily do so, listen to the following song: http://www.jcbsong.co.uk/jcbvideo.asp If you can relate, then it's time to come out and play with me. Remember, I'm only a few doors down, ready to play whenever you are.