Challenge of the week:

Celebrate National Be a Kid Again Day

Once upon a time, many of us wanted to grow up, impatient for perceived freedom and a life lived on our own terms. But what we didn’t realize was that childhood offered its own kind of freedom: one untouched by responsibilities, bills, or the weight of adult expectations. It’s a kind of freedom we don’t recognize until it’s gone.

While we can’t turn back the clock, I believe that an inner child still resides in each of us, though for some that child might be buried a bit deeper. Children have a natural inclination towards wonder, curiosity, and simplicity. National Be a Kid Again Day is all about tapping into those refreshing qualities that often get lost under the heavy burden of adult responsibility.

Here are some ideas to pepper your day with fun:

• Take a trip to the park to utilize a swing, merry-go-round, or slide
• Eat a peanut butter jelly on white bread with a freezy pop
• Fly a kite, watch the clouds, or build a fort
• Grab a coloring book, some Play-Doh, or Legos
• Spend the afternoon barefoot in the backyard, running through a sprinkler or engaging is a super-soaker battle
• Play a timeless childhood game: freeze-tag; red light, green light; sardines; duck-duck-goose

Bonus Points:

• Put down your phone
• Let yourself be silly without fear of judgment
• Laugh often
• Be curious, ask “why” a lot, and look at the world like it’s brand new

What’s one thing you loved doing as a kid? Let’s take a trip down memory lane in the comments below!