When asked, “Is that why life gets shorter as we get older?”
“Yes, because we become more and more robotic. When we are small children, everything is so fascinating that life seems to go on forever. Every day is huge … and we are so interested … as we become dulled, as our minds get less and less curious, we go on automatic pilot more and more in our relationships, work, etc. … life loses its vivacity and it seems shorter.”
This is very sad, isn’t it? Actually it is the same time. It seems to speed up.
This is an indication of how we are becoming more and more robotic in our responses. In a way it is a warning sign for us to wake up and reestablish that original childlike curiosity and fresh quality of mind.
One thing I love about being a parent is seeing the world through a child’s eyes once again and getting a taste of that magical feeling that life is a grand adventure, and not just an endless series of deadlines and to do lists.
This weekend Miss C and Miss A raided the dress up basket and twirled around the house like barefoot princesses, rode bikes up to the neighborhood playground and played with an abandoned golf ball, and dug in the dirt in the backyard with sticks. Their imagination has no tethers; their excitement for life is contagious. As their mother, I am simply honored that I get to come along for the joyride.
Photo Courtesy of Jamie Reeves
