I spent yesterday afternoon watching and playing with my two adorable preschool-aged cousins play in a park. The playground is probably the first locale where many of us receive a social education, of sorts. As I witnessed children negotiate playground equipment, learn how to pump their legs on a swing, and share, I thought about the life lessons garnered from this experience.
1. The View from the Swing. Life does not get much better than this. Remember tossing your head back as the swing headed towards the sky. The tickly, bubbly feeling as you swung forward? (Try this as an adult and you will undoubtedly experience nausea.) We spend the rest of our lives trying to recapture this feeling. Sex, drugs, rock 'n roll. Even a few cocktails. They may come close, but no cigar.
2. Climbing to the Top. Playgrounds feature various climbing apparatus. Although they may toddle through the wood chips blanketing the ground, magic happens when young children climb up these various rock-climbing steps, ladders, even up slides. They are fearless little monkeys. The possibility of falling doesn't even phase them. Just do it. And if they do fall, they "pick themselves up, brush themselves off, and start all over again."
3. Climb Up the Slide if You Want! Sure, slides are meant to go down. When you decide to go the opposite route, risk is involved. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Listen most of the time but know when to take chances. Climb up that slide if you want!
4. Wait Your Turn. Sure, that kid wants to push you out of the way so he can play on the bouncy turtle. The frog isn't going to do it for him. But, be assertive. Tell him to wait. Relationships are about waiting your turn.
5. Keep Pumping Till You Get It Right. Learning to pump your legs is no small feat. It takes practice. In, out, in, out. Eventually, you will get it right. But, you may still need someone to give you that push to get started.
Thank you, Hannah and Nathan, for a joyful afternoon!
No comments:
Post a Comment