It was a Tuesday morning, and I was in a rush to cross campus and check off the next item on my agenda for the day. My class had run late, and I was cutting it dangerously close to make it to chapel on time. I mentally ran through all the things I needed to accomplish for the day and started planning the thesis for my next paper as I walked. There was so much to get done and not much time left in the school year to accomplish it all.
In the middle of my hectic multitasking, an animated child tumbled across the grassy triangle to catch up with me. He stopped on the sidewalk in front of me and thrust something into my hand. As he scampered away, I heard his little voice call out, “Have a nice day!” In my hands I held a beautiful watercolor butterfly made out of a coffee filter and cinched together by a pipe cleaner.
I walked the rest of the way to chapel, smiling and breathing just the slightest bit deeper.
An hour later walking to my dorm, two more kids came careening forward to deliver their treats – lollipops with little messages attached.
A few days later, I found myself surrounded by a gaggle of children, all eager to know if I would stand still for a minute, so they could draw my portrait for me.
A couple days after that, I was presented with a homemade card from my music students, thanking me for teaching them about beat, rhythms and instruments.
To those preschoolers, I was just another one of the big kids who they would stop and share their treasures with, but to me, that moment meant so much more. It is not every day you get to see such selfless interactions.
After a week filled with these adorable, little pick-me-ups, I got to thinking: What would life be like if we all approached each other with the unguarded enthusiasm, warmth and glee of a child?
What if we made a habit of going out of our way to do things for one another? What if we stopped worrying about what others may think of us and, instead, focused on how to brighten their day?
The world tells us that to be an adult, we have to be mature, sensible and put together. Adults are even keeled and don’t spaz out or get overly excited. They take things in stride and get things done. They’re productive, efficient and task-oriented.
Kids, on the other hand, have no filter. They can be boisterous, loud and exuberant. Children can make some of the biggest messes and overreact with the simplest of disappointments. But, they can also love unconditionally, with no qualifiers, and give freely of all they have to offer without qualms.
Sure, they may squabble over little things, but at the end of the day, they are remarkably accepting and generous and love to share their happiness and sense of wonderment with those around them.
At their core, there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the “adult” traits. To an extent, we should strive to be organized and make the best use of our time. The danger with living life like an adult is that we become so focused on our to-do lists and the curve balls life constantly throws us, we forget the people around us. We are social creatures; there’s a reason we live in communities.
However, instead of building up that community, we often ignore it all together. Just look at the typical city street: Everyone is walking at top speed, eyes fixed straight ahead, not even making eye contact or issuing a greeting to those they walk past.
Sometimes, we just need to forget that barrier of formality and reach out to others, even if all we have to offer is a smile. It might just make someone’s day.
