The kingdom of the children.
Adulthood comes with a lot of struggles. The struggle to survive. The struggle to care for our loved ones. The struggle to achieve an ambition and in turn set another one to be achieved in the future. The list of the reasons why we struggle is inexhaustible.
Many times when I am lost in thinking which is sometimes accompanied with brooding, I see my son running around the house, climbing me in excitement.
He would invite me to his kingdom for a few minutes. The kingdom of the children where there are no troubles. We could stay for minutes playing. During such a period, I feel good about life around me. The thoughts of numerous bills to be paid are suspended. He makes me enjoy the kingdom of the children.
As a child growing up under my parents, I was eager to taste adulthood. Everything that I imagined about adulthood were of greater advantages. The freedom to decide on what to do with your life. Independence and many more were the reasons I looked forward to adulthood. Those days, I envied young adults around me like my uncle that was staying with us. Whenever he was going out, all he needed to do was to tell my parents that he would be back shortly. In my own case, I dared not leave the house without being sent on an errand. My activities were given close monitoring and I wasn't happy about it. I interpreted it to be the limitations of being a child. I was eager to leave the shackles of what I termed as bondage. Little did I know that adulthood, with all the perceived advantages, is not all bed of roses.
I was outside the house doing some cleaning exercises when I heard the crying of my son who was initially playing with another baby from my next door neighbor. I ran towards them to know why they were crying. I met them to be a few centimeters apart. At that point, I entered the house and brought out two candies. I gave one to each of them and they stopped crying. The crying transitioned into laughter and playing. They were enjoying the kingdom of the children.
"This is a practical experience of Lucky Dube's song," I told myself.
I reached out for my phone and played the track to refresh my memory.
Lucky Dube was a South African reggae musician who used his art to talk about many things.
In the song titled "My World," he talked about a child inviting a rich man to their kingdom (the kingdom of the children). The rich man was standing miserably and crying. Upon enquiry about why he was crying despite being a rich man, he talked about bills upon bills as the reason why he was not happy. The boy invited him to his kingdom where he has nothing to worry about except candies.
Anytime I play this song, it reminds me of my eagerness to experience adulthood. I am right there now but wishing to have another taste of the kingdom of the children. My life as a child was more peaceful. My parents weren't rich but it wasn't a source of concern to my innocent soul. All I cared about was to eat whatever my parents provided and play with my peers. The pressure of measuring up with others was not there. Once I laid my hands on a candy, I became the happiest person in the neighborhood.
Everything changed as an adult. No matter the resources within one's disposal, he would still be striving to amass more wealth. Many rich men got everything they needed but are still not happy. This was also expressed in the song with the lyrics below;
"Rich man thought about it said I have everything
But still I'm not happy maybe if I change and live my life
Like a child I'll be happy yeah"
Lyrics
"What's the way forward?" I asked myself.
I wished I could return to being a child. In reality, that's not possible.
What about living my life like a child? Yeah, this is possible.
Children had no worries. No troubles. They don't care if they are rich or poor. They live their lives and derive happiness from every moment.
If we can keep our mind off the troubles of this world and dwell more on what makes us happy like candy does to a child, we will have a better experience of happiness and fulfillment.
Let's embrace the life of children so that we can limit our worries and troubles.
This is a lovely thought ... a return to simplicity, though retaining responsibility ... a better balance!
A potent way forward to reduce pressure.
Things never never look like they seem, the more mature we become the more we get to realise that. Everyone wished to become an adult until they got to that stage of adulthood. Adulthood comes with so much responsibilities and one need to once in a while leave the world of an adult to enjoy some sanity.
Honestly, adulthood is filled with responsibilities. One needs to pause and rest many times. I wish it was possible to revisit childhood but growth is an irreversible reaction.
I wish it is possible possible too @lightpen, I am tired of this adulthood something 😀
It is well, 😂😂😂😂