Weekly Spark #182: Through the Eyes of a Child
Ever look at a child and wonder: what are they thinking about? There’s an element of simplicity, wonderment, curiosity, and awe about the world around them. Everything is new. Everything is something to be discovered. It’s a beautiful sight and experience, and one that I shared last week with my family.
Last week, on Thursday February 22nd, Colin and Emily welcomed their new bundle of joy, Claire Eileen Vrabel, into the world. Mom and baby are doing well! It’s such an exciting time for the Vrabel/Rooney family as we embark on a new journey as first time parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
As I sat at the hospital hanging with the family, I was (in addition to the natural feeling of happiness for the family) struck by seeing a one-day old baby and wondering how they process life. My mom said she wondered what the baby was thinking about, and I felt the same way. At some stage, we all were in Claire’s shoes. Think about seeing life through the eyes of a child. Simplicity. No drama. No stressing over nothing. No worrying about things and people that don’t matter. As we have grown up, the world has tried to iron those things out of us; people naturally lose that sense of wonderment and curiosity as they grow older (but they don’t have to). They lose the sense of groundedness and simplicity that a child has. As much as I saw peace and contentment in a child, I was reminded of how we waste so much time in this life, creating our own misery, robbing ourselves of the very peace and contentment that we deserve. For what reason? I’m still trying to find out.
If seeing a child reminds us to return to our roots, so be it. If there is anything to remind you to get back to the basics, ground yourself in simplicity and real life around you, let it take you there.
Find your people. Find your passions. And ask yourself this simple question when you find yourself stressed/anxious/unsettled over trivial things: if I were viewing life with the simplicity through the eyes of a child, would any of this matter?
Mental Diet
Quote of the Week:
“A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Until next time… Take care of yourself and take care of each other. 🙏
Nathan