Mama Buddha is confused; why aren’t we kids anymore?
Mama Buddha is confused, already for a long time. Because when I look at kids, how they act and react, I keep asking myself; ‘Where did we grown-ups went wrong?’
Let me try to explain.
Kids are pure, honest, living in the moment. At least when they are like 2 or 3 years old. Up till then we allow them to be their own little individuals. We allow them to be kids. We allow them to get angry, moody, tired, sleepy, hungry, happy and joyful at the times they want to be.
Little babies do not understand our concept of time. Every young parent knows what I am talking about. When your child is hungry, and cries, you feed them. When they are asleep, you let them.
When they get cranky (because they are hungry or tired) again, you feed them or put them to bed.
But then we try to mold the child into our grown-up, socially accepted concept of time and order.
Sleep at 07.00 pm until 07.00 am, eat 3 meals a day, go to school during the day, prepare the child to go to work every day, earn money, be responsible.
And then, when we grow up and do all these things, we get stressed out, depressed, burned out.
Why?…we ask ourselves.
Mama Buddha thinks it is because when growing up, we forget to listen to our body. We do not allow ourselves to listen to our body anymore. If you get cranky because you are tired…get over it!
Hungry at 2 pm, get over it, wait until dinnertime. Sleepy at 5.00 pm, again…get over it, you still have to finish work, make dinner, watch TV, go to do your sports, socialize with your friends, and then, maybe then you allow yourself to go to bed.
Why are we so hard on ourselves? Why don’t we treat ourselves as the kids we once were? Look at small children. When they are moody, 9 times out of 10 it is very easy to solve. With some sleep, attention, nutrition. Let us be more kind to ourselves, listen more to our bodies, give the body the rest it deserves. I am sure we all feel so much healthier and happier.