by Lori Deschene

“A three-year-old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.” ~Bill Vaughn

You have bills.  And obligations.  And responsibilities.

And people who mean something to you: People who believe in you who you’d like to make proud.  People who don’t believe in you who you’d like to prove wrong.

Things you want to accomplish, both for you and your family.  Things you want to experience to feel you’ve lived a full life.

Things that keep you caught in a place in your head where now feels like no more than a vehicle to a better tomorrow.

Those people and things aren’t going anywhere.   You can.

You can go to a place where anything seems possible. Where you see what’s right in front of you and fully enjoy it without stressing about something that happened or hasn’t happened yet.

A place where appearances don’t seem so important—so you play, and act silly, and ask questions, and respond honestly, without censoring or judging your feelings.

A place where you feel good doing things that make you happy, no matter how long they’ll last, because they make you smile right now.

You can’t go back to three years old—you probably wouldn’t want to—but you can tap into all that joy.

Take recess today.

Give yourself permission to stop worrying and striving.   Just be where you are. Focus on the wonder of something simple.  Create something and have fun—do it just to have fun.  Be curious, and playful, and easily impressed, and open.  Even if just for a while.

A small break and a small shift in thinking can make a significant difference.

Do happy. It’s something you’re due.

This post is republished with permission.  Find more of Lori Deschene’s writing at tinybuddha.com. Read the original post here