A creative adult is a child that has survive

lessons from kids coming back to basics

I never get to spend time with kids. Now I’m holiday in the Caribbean with my partner’s family and he has the cutest 2 year old niece.

She calls me tata (French for aunt). It felt so special to be recognize for the very first time like that and that she knew, has soon as she saw me, that I was her aunt. My heart was melting.

After spending a few days with her, quickly she became a source of inspiration and reflection for me, an inspiration trigger.

I remember also how last summer, when I went to the beach, I loved to see kids playing, alone, having the best time on their own. Moving to place to place with their toys, books and whatever they need to have a good time. Joy and presence is key.

I’m amaze about seeing her be and discover the world. It feels like coming back to basics principles, that as an adult, I need to force myself to remember:

Be honest with myself and others—she says no when she doesn’t want to and yes when she does.

Connection is essential—she invite you to play with her when it feels right and leave when she feels she wants to play alone.

Also, when words are missing play is a form of connection, we are enjoying each others company through presence and laugher.

Openness as a way of being—she lives in constant state of awe, everything is new, everything is to be explored. She has no preconceived ideas about anything, she is this beautiful white canvas that when guided through life gently, it would move gently through the years.

Trust myself and go after what I want because is the only way I will get it— she points, she nods, she indicates what she wants because it’s the only way she will get it. She lives in a “yes” world, full of possibilities. Even if that possibility leads to a no, she will still ask/try.

Listen to my body wisdom—she eats when she is hungry and sleep when she is tired.

There is a saying that a creative adult is a child that has survive. I always thought this was related with having a lot of imagination and ideas flowing. Today I see, that a creative adult is one that keeps themselves actively curious, powerful motivated to have new experiences and try new ideas—a student— with great openness to receive and to give, it go after his dreams because it knows is the only way of getting them, it honors their truth. A gentle heart that moves through life inviting others in and where play and joy allow connection to flow, with themselves and with others.