I'm beginning to notice more and more these days just how much an adult's perspective of the world differs from a child's. It tends to be darker and more pessimistic - or the preferred term "realistic". Some of the wonder of the world is lost as you grow. Sometimes I think about how much I miss being a child and being so carefree and innocent. But then I think, if I were a child again, what would I lose? Growing up may take away some of the simple joys, but it gives you new ones, if you're willing to be brave and think optimistic thoughts. Sometimes they're realistic too.
What I've noticed most recently is that there are things we carry with us from childhood that we sometimes need to be retaught when we grow. They're different for everyone. For some they may have to re-discover their faith, others relearn their beliefs, while others may have to repave the road to their goals. Sometimes the things we learn growing up don't fit quite so cleanly with what we may've known as a child. Does that mean they're wrong? Or is it simply a chance to become like a child again and learn with new eyes the things we always knew?
Maybe we shouldn't spent all our adult years mourning the loss of childhood. True, adulthood doesn't give the same simple joys as youth - it has different ones. It has the chance to learn things fresh, to see the world more, to actually live adventures instead of acting them out in your backyard with your friends. Sure, it'll be hard and scary sometimes, but it wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't.
For me, this was the best part of transitioning from teenager to young adult—regaining some of who I was as a child. I think we understand ourselves far better when we're kids, something I didn't really get until the confusion of adolescence was behind me.
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