How to Feel Young Again
Watch your step, do not bang your head! If parents and grandparents had a nickel for every time they said that, we would all be rich. Kids are fearless and love to try new things, even if they are a little wobbly or unsure of the results. Can you remember the last time you really felt young? When was the last time you belly laughed until you hiccuped or swooshed down a water slide? We are going to teach you how to feel young again.
We have all heard the saying that being young is a state of mind, but that state of mind gets harder and harder to achieve when our daily habits revolve strictly around adult responsibilities, adult activities and concerns.
Life gets burdensome at times, but you can feel like a kid again if you can learn to shake it off for an hour or two and just play.
Revisit Sights, Sounds and Smells
Sometimes all it takes is spending a little time doing something that reminds us of childhood, or that invokes memories through taste and smell. For some, it is a physical activity that brings back carefree feelings, like blowing giant bubbles, splashing in puddles, running through sprinklers, dancing barefoot on the lawn, or riding a beach cruiser.
For others, it is sights, sounds, smells and taste that bring back the giggles. Swimming in a lake brings back memories of splash fights, paddle races, dunking, and long afternoons spent wet while reading a book and having no other cares in the world. For a lot of people, any kind of water sport relaxes the soul and put us in touch with our inner kid.
Goof Around With Kids and Grand Kids
Charmaine Gill of Chehalis, WA loves to play with her grandchildren.
“I see the world through their eyes," she says, “and it’s like rediscovering things all over again."
Kay Mercer of Paso Robles, CA says, “I went to an art fundraiser this summer, where they set up six different play stations using different art media: acrylics, clay, wood burning, and water colors. We decided to play in the clay. By the end of the evening, the smiles on everyone’s faces were the same as the smiles on children’s faces. It really did awaken childlike senses."
Play Time
For others, it is all about just engaging in joyous adult activities.
Lonny Abugow of Sacramento, CA says he enjoys “a day on a mountain on my free float mountain bike. Instant 11 year old."
Aimee Pfaff, Sacramento CA, enjoys “water parks, ziplining and playing with my dogs." Andrew Cosca, San Mateo, CA, says he feels young again when “playing sports while chewing bubble gum."
According to Stephen Jepson, that is what feeling young is all about. Jepson, who will be 75 on his next birthday, is learning to kite sail this year and says he is bumping up his juggling skills to four batons.
Jepson, an artist, also designed his own skateboard and roller skates.“I don’t have an ‘inner kid,’" he says, “because I’m an outer kid!" Jepson firmly believes that the secret to staying young is through active play.
Jepson, who plays hopscotch and jacks for exercise, points out that as we age we should incorporate activities that exercise both sides of our body and brain. “It keeps you limber, strong, and improves your balance, which in turn prevents devastating falls and injuries." Jepson also says that “being happy is a skill. You should never lose your joie de vivre, and the best way to do that is through play. Exercise should be fun!"
Talk About How You Feel
If you feel sad or nostalgic about aging, it may be good to talk to someone. Talk to a friend or family member. if this does not work, maybe verbal therapy will help you too. It is okay to feel sad, but allow yourself to process the emotions and get past them.
Tips on How to Feel Young Again
While these peoples' experience can be applied to your life, let's take a look at specific tips to bring out your inner child. Feeling young again will help you enjoy life more. It will help loosen you up and reduce stress. These tips include:
- Playing with your children
- Talking to your parents about your childhood
- Looking through photo albums
- Exercising
- Watching a favorite move
- Reading a favourite book
- Looking at things you collected as a child
- Coloring
- Working on a project
- Taking time to indulge in a hobby
Now You Know How to Feel Young Again
We hope these tips and experiences will help you feel young again. Just because you are older does not mean you need to feel your age. Go outside and smell the roses. Book time off work. Travel the world. Let yourself live.