A fellow blogger mentioned these two words together yesterday with a bit of apology as he compared childlike to a lack of responsibility in some areas of his life. I puzzled over it a bit and have decided to share ownership of those two words with him, but I'll argue the sense that childlike has anything to do with not filling out forms or paying bills.
I am old in years and childlike in nature. Childlike does not mean irresponsible or silly, though I don't mind claiming the latter at times. Choose instead the meanings: innocent, natural, spontaneous. Find wonder in the world and approach life with curiosity and interest. Say "Oh Wow!" while viewing a sunset, shed tears over a piece of music, giggle while you blow bubbles. Childlike is to keep learning and growing, to keep finding newness around you.
Age is a fact and the years keep incrementing. Experience brings cynicism and suspicion along with wisdom and awareness. At least we can hope it does. But I want to always balance those with awe and delight. I'll sit open-mouthed in amazement as a spider spins her web and splash in puddles just for the fun of it. I hope that blogger-buddy will too.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
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3 comments:
Maybe your friend meant childish.
Say, I looked forward to your impression of "I judge my life," but I never heard from you. It appears to be the most favorably received piece I have ever written.
Child-like is good. Childshish is good too. Child-felt, child-wonder, child-vision, are we splitting hair here? We got your meaning. We must remember that if we no longer see things as new, we are then blind!
I've greatly enjoyed all your recent posts Snow - but others say before me what I'd say, probably less eloquently. Please know that I keep reading!
Lake- words carry emotional baggage for many of us. Childlike=innocent. Childish=immature. It is one of the best parts of language, the nuances we carry along as we speak and write. But I'll grant that last sentence, perhaps changing the blind to "our sight is dimmed"?
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