Children are curious, always looking for an answer, or a way to understand things that are happening in their world.  A sunrise isn’t the start of another horrible day, when they open their eyes, it means a new adventure is going to start, and youth often think, “what will happen to them today.”

I have a just-turned five-year old brother, We are going to call him B on here.  like many other little ones in the world, he seeks understanding, and to smile, laugh, and definitely most importantly to him, to play!  He has an incredible imagination, and throughout most of the day, everything is a game.  his imagination allows him the opportunity to make something tiny, like a pool noodle, become a sword on his journey to beat invading aliens, or to use a pillow as a shield since he is now Captain America. He can throw himself around the room making the laser gun sounds that sound infinitely better than my “pew pew” sounds. I honestly think the coolest thing is how his brain processes the amount of information that he is presented.

Since he is still learning about the world around him, he will often ask a million questions, ranging from, “What does that word say?” all the way to. “How do planes fly if they are metal?”

As we grow up and get older and at some point we lose that spark, we stop pretending and seeing the wonder in things.  We drone on in our daily lives, moving from task to task; working, and chasing that “dream.”  But what is the dream? to be filthy rich? to be wealthy enough you don’t have to worry about things financially ever again? Sure, we all want those things, but at what cost would it still be “worth it?” Where is the irony in working your entire life, and retiring at 70, when a majority of your life is indeed gone, and you begin to “live.”

Just earlier today, I was sitting in a classroom taking an exam, when I looked out the window (probably because I couldn’t think of the answer, and maybe I was subliminally hoping there would be a squirrel with a giant note-card with the answer on it.) and there was a girl out there sitting down on the grass, and I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I want to be out there!” she wasn’t doing anything, and in that moment, she was doing EVERYTHING I wanted to do.  By just sitting down and enjoying the weather, she didn’t have her phone out, she didn’t have a book out, she was simply sitting there with her eyes closed. It was magnificent, refreshing, and peaceful.

When had I felt that moment of peace that I’m assuming she was experiencing? (now this is of course speculation, she could have been fighting a killer headache, but lets just be optimistic people.) The last time I had this feeling was several weeks ago, I was on top of a mountain and sitting there, listening to music and just simply looking out at the ground below me.  In that moment, I was still, my phone was on silent, and I was sitting there quietly on a rock.  Amazingly enough, I was having the best time ever, and there was no video games, or television present, granted yes, I was listening to music, but it was Ed Sheeran radio on Pandora.  I mean just look at this picture!

It was beautiful and serene, and left me in awe, and wonder as to how it has been here all this time, and I’ve lived in Oklahoma for so long and never been here. I realize that life never stops, there will be times that suck, and there will be times where you are happier than you ever thought possible, but don’t forget to find those times, where you sit in wonder, silence, and peace.  These are the moments we should be working towards.

 That’s all for now, until next time my friends be well, love fiercely, smile, and find peace

—L