What were like as a child? Shy? Outgoing? Happy? Miserable? Brave? Fearful?

Personally, I remember myself in many ways, among them:

Brave: Just for kicks, I climbed up on the roof of our two-story garage, sat on the apex and took pictures of the house, and the cat and the basketball goal from the top down.

Fearful: One Palm Sunday I was in the bathtub when tornado warnings were issued on the radio. The following morning, the devastation was all over the local news. After that, I wouldn’t take a bath on Sunday night for weeks.

Quirky:  I was a thumb sucker till I was at least six, and a chronic bedwetter. And remember those bowl covers people used to use to keep leftovers fresh?  I loved to parade around with them on my hands and my head. There are pictures of this.

It pays to remember what you were like as a child. To remember your vulnerability, your bravery. Your naivete. Your fears. Your quirks. Your imagination. Your wounds. Because, well, you’re pretty hard on yourself as an adult, and you forget that that that child still lives inside you, and sometimes needs a little attention. A little acknowledgement. A little sympathy. Sometimes that little child needs to be forgiven. Celebrated. Set free to play and laugh and believe that surely somebody somewhere wants your candy.

Remembering could help you be a little more compassionate toward yourself.

And maybe toward other people, as you remember that everyone you meet was a child once, too.

Listen in for some inspiration to be compassionate at this verrry tricky (election) time of year…

NOTE:
Freeman, Emily P. The Next Right Thing podcast, Episode 330: “Mister Rogers and Decision-Making.” May 28, 2024.