You can!
Have you ever felt like you're constantly striving to return to a simpler, more joyful version of yourself? We often forget the little things that used to bring us immense joy as children. Today, I want to tell you a story about my childhood and how rediscovering my love for drawing tropical birds reminded me of the importance of holding on to our inner child.
The Art of Childhood
When I was young, I went through phases of drawing certain things. Around the age of 10, I drew a collection of tropical birds repeateldy using my coveted oil pastels. Each version was slightly different but I just loved drawing them again and again. Before that, I drew portraits of women with big red lips, long eyelashes, and large earrings. Growing up in the late '80s and '90s, large plastic earrings were super cool. And they still are! Wink, wink.
Recently, I was updating my pattern portfolio and my fabric shop with a tropical collection featuring a Toucan. It hit me that this toucan was the same one I used to draw as a kid. Why tropical birds? I grew up in Nebraska, lol! Well, I dreamed of going to places like the Amazon jungle and whenever we went to the Henry Doorly Zoo (the best in the US), I went to the indoor jungle exhibition and pretended I was really in the jungle.
Toucan Fabric and Wallpaper Collection
from Imagination to Reality
What a great way to trick myself, and it worked! Since then, I’ve been able to visit real jungles in Mexico, Bali, and Japan (does Okinawa count?). Still not the Amazon, but maybe someday. So what’s my point and why am I telling you this?
It got me thinking that the inner child is always there. In fact, I would argue that we are constantly working towards getting back to our original self that is there from the start. Life shapes us, allowing us to take on different identities and try things out based on external factors. But that’s the tricky part. How do you maintain your true self and not get clouded by external pressures?
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
At the Zoo. Beautifully complex. Like life.
Holding on to Joy
All I want to say is this: hold on tight to that joy you found as a child and whatever it was, keep doing it. Whether it's a small hobby or a big dream job, it doesn’t matter. It’s that curiosity that creates a certain magic in life. Let a little of that “magic” feeling like when you were a kid with your imagination come back!
For me, it’s creating colorful artwork. It only needs to be paper and crayons, and I’m suddenly transported to another world. Each person is different, so for you, it might look like playing a sport with friends or reading certain kinds of books. We all need a release and a recharge from the heaviness of the world. And yes, wearing oversized earrings helps!
Recognizing my love for drawing tropical birds as an adult has reminded me of the importance of staying connected to our inner child. The joy we experienced in our youth can still be found in our daily lives, no matter how old we are. So, what’s your joy? Whatever it is, make time for it. Keep that spark alive, and let it recharge you from the heaviness of the world.
Our two boys playing at the Zoo back in the height of Covid. Great examples and reminders of play and imagination.
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