“You’re never too old to learn, you’re never too young to teach,” – Unknown
My two biggest teachers are 3 and 1.
They are my kids.
Last week I shared with you what you can learn about love from the way my son is learning to put on his socks.
Check out the video here (sorry, it’s not him putting on his socks, that would have been more fun).
Basically, I talk about his patience with himself, his determination, his faith that it’s going to happen. And that you can do that in love too, it’s how you’re wired, you just might need a push in the right direction.
The first few lessons here?
Be patient with yourself.
Put your blinders on as you work toward making your goal a reality.
Know that no matter what, it will happen. The when is less important than the faith that it will happen.
What’s most frustrating and inspiring at the same time is his sense of timelessness.
I catch myself feeling anxious and saying “we are running late,” and then realize how I am unintentionally impressing that false-adult-reality onto this kid’s mind.
He’s trying to put his jacket on and it’s upside down and if I were to back off a minute, it would be the cutest thing ever.
But I’m just trying to get out the door. To get to the next thing.
He’s immersed in the present.
The present is all we’ve got. Stay there, like him.
Then I’ve got my 1 year old.
Having a baby last year was another reminder about boundaries.
I went on a walk with her this morning just for the sake of going outside.
Usually when I go outside in the morning there’s a purpose.
I’m on my way somewhere, or maybe I’m out for a run.
The purpose with my daughter was just to be present.
She runs too fast for her own good sometimes. And falls. Most often she’s nonplussed and gets right back up. And cries for a minute if she falls hard, but always stops soon after. And gets right back up.
We all need to do that more.
Have a cry for 60 seconds when something hurts and get back in the game without skipping a beat.
Like my son has always done quite well, as do all little ones, she lets her emotions flow. Uncensored. Not stifled.
I’m not encouraging all of us to walk around being big cry babies, but if we can allow at least the awareness of our emotions, we can let them flow better.
That’s what emotions are meant to do.
Back to being present…
When I’m with her, I pay more attention.
We revel in the sounds of the birds chirping, and time stops when I hear her say “twoo twoo” like a bird. It’s not even real how cute it is.
Because she’s growing so fast, and I have another who is already 3 who seemed like an infant a minute ago, and I remember being a kid like it was yesterday and I’m decades away from that now, I try to remember to revel in the moments I have with her.
They are fleeting. “It goes by fast,” everyone says.
When you’re truly present, these moments become timeless.
While I can get frustrated and might drink too much wine on occasion, I literally pinch myself that I get to be so fortunate.
Kids will notice the magic in the ordinary in a way that we as adults forget to sometimes.
We might spend five minutes standing in front of a tree and feeling its bark.
I notice how beautiful the world and nature can be through her eyes.
People soften and are more compassionate when they see her because she is so young and sweet.
Then I stop and think, these two little beings actually grew inside of me and came OUT of me?
And at times, I myself don’t even believe in magic?!
So I’m reminded in miracles and that there is more working in our favor than against us.
That we are ultimately creators.
That miracles are real.
And when we can undo some of the things we’ve picked up along the way and lean back into our natural childlike purity, we, too, can experience timelessness and limitlessness.
The lessons these kids teach are not only key when it comes to enjoying a strong relationship and business, they’re about how to truly live a rich life.
To summarize, in so many words:
- Be patient with yourself. (And others.)
- Trust the process. Keep your goals front and center and work toward them, in faith, KNOWING with certainty you’ll get there.
- The when is not as important as the fact that you WILL get there.
- The present is all you have. Be here now.
- Eradicate any barriers between your awareness and your emotional experience; let your feelings flow.
- Stay in the game. Falling is part of the process, but always jump back in.
- Recognize the beauty around you. Revel in it.
- Never forget to be grateful for what you have.
- The most important thing is to PLAY! (I am really “working” on this…)
- Magic and reality are synonymous. Believe in miracles. They are everywhere. You are a perfect example.
To your limitlessness,
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