This week has brought a couple of occurrences that prompted me to take a fresher look at the world around me. Children do that so well, don’t they?
Monday was Earth Day. Did you celebrate in any way? Did you even know? I have to admit that my answer to both questions is no. At least not until my daughter shared some pictures of what my five-year-old sweeties chose to do on their own. They go to afternoon kindergarten, so early that morning, they suggested to their mom that they go to a local park where they often play to pick up trash. “Let’s make it cleaner for us and our friends to play,” they said.
This wasn’t a school project, or a community activity. Just two little girls thinking on their own that they actually had the power to make their surroundings better for themselves and for others.
Grownups tend to lose that assumption somewhere along the way, don’t we? Not entirely, of course, or else we would be living in chaos. But we get discouraged with political processes, from the local to the national and in between. We get so busy with our daily lives that we allow others to spend their time keeping the PTA and Little League and church activities going. It is so easy to get overwhelmed with the bigness of the world and the enormity of our challenges that we forget that we do have the power to make a difference.
I remember feeling that I could change the world, believing in my youth that if everyone would pitch in, all of life’s problems could be fixed. I felt powerful and energized. But I, too, lost those feelings as time went by. I still worked hard in a career in social services and as one of the “regulars” of the PTA, et. al. But as time went by, I narrowed my view of what I could actually accomplish and lowered my expectations.
My sweeties reminded me of the bliss that comes from naturally and child-ish-ly believing that the world is mine to enjoy and to influence. Maybe if we can somehow hold onto that assumption and couple it with the practicalities of adulthood, we can use that feeling to fuel a renewed commitment to contributing to our world in meaningful ways.
So, enough of the seriousness. I want to share an absolutely hysterical video I stumbled upon this week. This is one child who knows her own mind!
My guess is that this young lady has been reminded, perhaps numerous times, to worry about herself! She does have lovely manners, though, doesn’t she? She remembers to add the “Thank you” after her sternly delivered “No!”
Thank you, Ryan Hunley, for posting this!
Here’s a picture of some joy I stumbled on myself this week! 
Ever since visiting the Outer Banks last summer, I have been searching for the regular size of these chairs, which can be seen all over the Hatteras Island. Their colorfulness makes me smile. I haven’t had any luck, however, in my search. Not until earlier this week, when I discovered these children’s versions. I just had to have them. Although I can’t fit into them, every time I see them when I walk past my kitchen door or window, I brighten up, excited for the approaching summer.
Laughter and joy. They come so naturally to little ones. And they can spread to us like pixie dust if we just take the time to slow down and breathe it in.
Happy spring! I hope you find lots of pixie dust on your way to summer!
