#child

We all have things that we miss about our childhood. They may include the following: no responsibilities, little worries, or even simply doing something silly and being able to laugh at yourself.

I want you to think back to your childhood. Remember feeling so happy-go-lucky or like you could take on the world? That’s the beautiful thing about children: the way they are so self-confident and care-free.

Care-free Lushwana at two years old. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

However, these are traits that often begin to become foreign to us as we begin to get older and our lives begin to change.

In fact, the harsh reality is: depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health conditions experienced by young people. The frequency of change and uncertainty experienced in one’s adolescence often triggers feelings of sadness or a lack of confidence, instead of sparking excitement and optimism like when we were kids.

But i’m here to tell you that as you continue to make your way through this journey that we call life, that you can still move ahead without letting the past go. Just because you’re growing up and life is taking its course, it doesn’t mean that you must leave behind the child you once were.

Here are 5 ways to never lose the child in you:

Put yourself in unfamiliar situations: Have an open mind and expose yourself to new things.
Pick up a creative hobby: It’s hard to feel curious and carefree when you spend most of your time working or running errands. Take a few moments each day to engage in an activity that you find creatively stimulating.
Look up: There’s a big world around you, and it can be easy to tunnel vision your way through each day. Be sure to take the time to look up and just enjoy the world around you.
Spend time with kids: There is no better way to tap into your inner child then to surround yourself with other kids. They’ll really help you remember the little things that matter.
Do something each day “just because”: Kids are forever doing things simply because they want to. So dance, watch a TV show you’ve been waiting to see or meet up with your long-time friend.

Care-free Lushwana at 20 years old, tapping into her inner child. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

Starting today I want you to take some time to tap into that happy place once known as your childhood and to begin believing again that everything and anything is possible. Lastly, always stay true to yourself and hold on to the things that make your heart smile, no matter how little they are or no matter how old you may get.

~Miss Twenty Something

What are ways you tap into your inner child? Comment below.

Change is inevitable. As we grow from children into adults it is only natural that our likes, dislikes, and interests will change. In fact, many of the things we hated as kids, we eventually come to love and appreciate as adults. Isn’t that ironic?

Here are 20 things every 20 something hated as a kid, but now loves as an adult:

1. Naps: Remember being in kindergarten and being forced to take a nap? It felt like torture. Now as an adult, you make any excuse just to take one.

Naps are essential for adults to get through their long days. Source: Giphy

2. Long car rides: Are we there yet? The nagging question that every parent hated to hear from their child. Now as an adult, long car rides are used to just relax.

3. Healthy food: Every kid’s diet consists of sugar but as an adult, ordering a salad at a restaurant is actually cool. And spinach smoothies and kale chips actually taste delicious.

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Kids hate healthy foods. Source: Giphy

4. Siblings: Your childhood was probably spent either nagging your siblings, arguing with them or both. However, now that you’re older those things have stopped and you learn to appreciate them a lot more.

Myself with my siblings. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

5. Having nothing to do: This was every kid’s worst nightmare. But now I would love if my schedule would just magically clear up so I can just sit at home and do absolutely nothing.

6. Shopping: Your parents would drag you shopping when were a kid and you would hate it because you’d much rather be at home playing video games or watching TV. But now, shopping is your favourite sport.

Shop ’til you drop. Source: Giphy

7. Finishing your meal: I’m sure when you were a kid, your parents refused to let you leave the table without finishing your meal. Nowadays, as an adult you go back for seconds or even thirds.

As a adult, controlling your eating habits can be hard. Source: Giphy

8. Going to bed early: Most kids would do anything to be able to stay up late with the grown folks but as an adult, going to bed early is a treat.

9. Cash gifts: As a kid, your parents would force you to put that money into your “savings” but now you can spend it on whatever you want.

When you’re actually not a broke adult. Source: Giphy

10. Dark chocolate: The bitterness has actually turned out to be not that bad after all.

11. Alone time: Now that your life is so much busier and a lot more complicated, alone time as an adult is genuinely cherished.

Sometimes adults just want to be left alone. Source: Giphy

12. Alcohol: You probably stuck your finger in one of your parents’ drinks as a kid, to see what it tasted like and you regretted it immediately. Now alcohol is one of the greatest perks of being an adult.

Indulging in alcohol as an adult. Source: Giphy

13. Family vacations: Your parents pay for everything and your sole responsibility is to relax? I don’t know why we ever hated this as a kid.

14. Baths: Bath-time use to be the worst time. Now it seems like you can’t get enough of a relaxing bath or hot shower. And bath bombs are pretty much on your every wish-list.

Every adult loves a hot shower. Source: Giphy

15. The News: You actually developed an interest of staying informed about the world around you and keeping up-to-date with current events. Who would have thought?

Keeping up with the news, has it’s perks. Source: Giphy

16. Practical gifts: This is everything we wish for as an adult, so we don’t have to buy it ourselves and can waste our money on better things.

17. The opposite sex: I grew up thinking boys had the “cooties” and that I needed to stay away from them but turns out they’re actually pretty alright.

Little boy believes a girl gave him the “cooties”. Source: We Know Memes

18. People thinking you’re younger than you are: Only adults truly understand the power in looking younger than you actually are.

Telling an adult they look younger than they are, is their favourite compliment. Source: Giphy

19. Getting your hair done: Every kid hates sitting in one spot for a long period of time, just to get their hair done. Now we look forward to hair appointments because new hair, who dis?

20. Being seen with your parents: Chances are they got less embarrassing overtime or maybe you just learned to accept it.

Myself with my mom at my university graduation. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

The truth is, aging can really change our perspective on things. And that’s okay.

~Miss Twenty Something

What did you hate as a child but now love as an adult? Share with us in the comments below.

Miss Twenty Something

Don’t Lose the Child in You

20 Things Every 20 Something Hated as a Kid, But Loves as an Adult