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Where has the child gone?
Seems we are all growing up so fast. The change from a child to an adult happened so fast. We can’t play anymore; can’t imagine; can’t sing; can’t dance. Gee, what the heck! Why was getting older so appealing.
I remember as a child that I wanted to be older so I could do older people things …. like smoke and drive, and stay out late, go to work and wear makeup. By the time I was 25 I wanted to be a kid again. I realized that being an adult was a tough job. I thought, wow, no wonder older people, smoke and drink and stay out late, they need to as a result of all the stress they deal with.
I thought how wonderful if we could be a child and an adult at the same time. If we could find a way to let that inner child be more present with the adult. I started thinking to myself how wonderful a world it would be if I could play, sing and dance and not be looked upon as an immature child. My husband can attest to the fact that I am a child in an adult’s body. I do sing, often, and dance as much as I can and so does he.
For no reason I will just start singing and enjoying a tune. If I hear a great song I dance. I love to sit in my favorite space and let my imagination create joyful thoughts too. Thoughts like sailing on the ocean and watching the clouds float by.
Or I let my thoughts take me on playful journeys to places I wish to go to. I sit back and let nothing get in the way, not the bills, the dishes, the house cleaning, nothing at all gets in the way. Some say this is a form of meditation. I agree, and I also say it is a form of letting the mind be a child. I can’t see anything wrong with being childlike.
My husband and I often laugh at nearly nothing at all. He is more childlike now as well. I love that he will stop and dance a silly little dance when we are out shopping or walking or anywhere we find ourselves. He dances. I love that his spirit is so youthful and playful.
I sing in the shower, or when I am preparing a meal, or when I am doing laundry, where ever I am is fine with me. A happy song, a song that reminds me of a time that was joyful, positive, and happy. I often sing when I am at peace with my life. It is as though my soul sings. I know the child is singing at the top of her lungs then. You see being childlike is being happy, stress free, emotional, at peace, joyous and free.
So the next time you find yourself overly stressed, upset, hurting or angry, sing, dance, imagine, and create. These are inner tools that will help you through the pain of your adult life. I love songs from Simon and Garfunkel, and Cat Stevens, The Eagles, Sarah McLaughlin, Dianna Krall, and just about anyone who has songs that are fun to dance to and sing. Coming from my family it was easy to learn to enjoy music as there was live music being played all the time. Growing up my mom would say “oh no get the worm medicine Sharon is dancing again”. It was my play, my joy, my happiness, and it still is.
So be childlike whenever you can, find some songs you love and dance, sing, laugh and be joyous, you will live your life better for it.
I have a dear older friend, Bruce. I just love him. He is such a wonderful man. We spoke one day about the things I love to do and when I told him I love to dance, he giggled. Here he was at the time 83 years old and he was giggling as he told me the story about him and his wife of 64 years. He said, often where ever they found themselves they would dance. He said once they were In PEI on a bus trip with other elderly couples, he was 80 then. The bus was stopped for a restroom break and lunch break. His wife Betty and he were standing back at the bus and in a loving gesture decided to ask her to dance. From the bus he could hear a favorite song playing.
So they danced, holding each other gently he explained as they slowly moved to the music and enjoyed the sounds of the world all around them. For a moment on this trip he said” We were alone with the world”. He said he could hear others coming but dared not stop the moment he and Betty were so enjoying. After the song was over, they stopped the embrace, kissed and separated.
Applause rose from behind them. The others had returned to witness the dance, and they were all impressed. The Bus driver opened the door to allow them all to get on, as he did, the sound of a song came out of the bus, and couples stopped and shared the dance. Bruce said the song was Can I Have This Dance by Anne Murray, a favorite amongst East Coasters. They all danced and he said, after that moment the bus trip had value.
He felt alive and happy and young and in love again. I love this story so much as I know that Betty passed away when she was 81 and that would have been their last long trip together. Bruce is now 94, and although he can no longer dance he can still sing along to his favorite songs, which he plays near his bed daily. I went to see him a few weeks ago and although he is not well, it was wonderful to hear how happy his life is. He kept his inner child alive.
So if you are dealing with heavy loads of stress in your life, maybe some good medicine would be fun, play, laugh, sing, and dance. Be childlike, you will see how healing this will be.
A lovely poem written for me by a very old friend.
The Child sings,
she laughs,
listen to her spirit soar,
free from all the pain and sorrow,
joy on her wings.
The child dances,
she rejoices,
free from all the holds of fear,
free to move and release he past.
She is happy.
Let her sing, let her dance.
In the spirit of the child I have added two fun recipes for spring. Enjoy
Applesauce Bran Muffins, YUMMY
Ingredients
1. 1 egg
2. 1 cup (250 ML) applesauce
3. 2/3 cup (150 ML) buttermilk
4. 1/3 cup (75 ML) packed brown sugar
5. 1/4 cup (50 ML) fancy molasses
6. 1/4 cup (50 ML) Vegetable oil
7. 1 tsp (5 ML) vanilla
8. 1 cup (250 ML) natural wheat bran
9. 2 cups (500 ML) all-purpose flour
10. 1 tsp (5 ML) baking soda
11. 1 tsp (5 ML) cinnamon
12. 1 tsp (5 ML) salt
13. 1 cup (250 ML) raisins
Place oven rack in center of oven; turn on heat to 375°F (190°C). Brush each muffin cup lightly with oil or line with paper liner; set aside.
Break egg into large bowl. Measure: applesauce, buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses, oil and vanilla into same bowl. Whisk together with egg until smooth.
Add bran; with wooden spoon, stir well. Set aside for 5 minutes for bran to soften and absorb some of the liquid.
Measure: flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into separate large bowl. Scrape applesauce mixture over dry ingredients. Sprinkle with raisins; with wooden spoon, stir together until combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Using ice cream scoop or large spoon, fill muffin cups to the top with batter. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden and domed and tops feel firm to the touch.
Wearing oven mitts, remove pans from oven to rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Lift muffins out of pans and let cool completely on rack. (Muffins can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap, enclosed in an airtight container or large freezer bag and frozen for up to 2 weeks.)
Tip: Let wrapped and frozen muffin stand at room temperature for 2 hours before eating. Or unwrap muffin, re-wrap in paper towel and microwave at High for 30 seconds.
Cocoanut Pineapple Cake
Ingredients
2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1 teaspoon(s) salt
1/4 cup(s) well-stirred cream of coconut (from 15-ounce can)*
1 can(s) (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice
1 tablespoon(s) vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
3 large eggs
Silky Coconut Butter Frosting
3/4 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) well-stirred cream of coconut
2 tablespoon(s) well-stirred cream of coconut
2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1 cup(s) (2 sticks) unsalted butter (no substitutions), softened
Decorations
1 bag(s) (7 ounces, or 2 2/3 cups) sweetened flaked coconut
*Reserve cream of coconut remaining in can (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) to use in frosting recipe
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan
2. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, combine cream of coconut, pineapple with its juice, and vanilla
3. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter just until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition
4. Beat in flour mixture alternately with pineapple mixture just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture and occasionally scraping bowl
5. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen cake from pan; invert onto rack to cool completely.
6. Meanwhile, prepare Silky Coconut Butter Frosting: In 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Gradually stir in cream of coconut until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely
7. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in cream-of-coconut mixture. Makes about 3 cups.
8. either cut the cake in half to make a 2 layer cake or frost like it is
9. frost patting the coconut into the frosting on the cake
Seems we are all growing up so fast. The change from a child to an adult happened so fast. We can’t play anymore; can’t imagine; can’t sing; can’t dance. Gee, what the heck! Why was getting older so appealing.
I remember as a child that I wanted to be older so I could do older people things …. like smoke and drive, and stay out late, go to work and wear makeup. By the time I was 25 I wanted to be a kid again. I realized that being an adult was a tough job. I thought, wow, no wonder older people, smoke and drink and stay out late, they need to as a result of all the stress they deal with.
I thought how wonderful if we could be a child and an adult at the same time. If we could find a way to let that inner child be more present with the adult. I started thinking to myself how wonderful a world it would be if I could play, sing and dance and not be looked upon as an immature child. My husband can attest to the fact that I am a child in an adult’s body. I do sing, often, and dance as much as I can and so does he.
For no reason I will just start singing and enjoying a tune. If I hear a great song I dance. I love to sit in my favorite space and let my imagination create joyful thoughts too. Thoughts like sailing on the ocean and watching the clouds float by.
Or I let my thoughts take me on playful journeys to places I wish to go to. I sit back and let nothing get in the way, not the bills, the dishes, the house cleaning, nothing at all gets in the way. Some say this is a form of meditation. I agree, and I also say it is a form of letting the mind be a child. I can’t see anything wrong with being childlike.
My husband and I often laugh at nearly nothing at all. He is more childlike now as well. I love that he will stop and dance a silly little dance when we are out shopping or walking or anywhere we find ourselves. He dances. I love that his spirit is so youthful and playful.
I sing in the shower, or when I am preparing a meal, or when I am doing laundry, where ever I am is fine with me. A happy song, a song that reminds me of a time that was joyful, positive, and happy. I often sing when I am at peace with my life. It is as though my soul sings. I know the child is singing at the top of her lungs then. You see being childlike is being happy, stress free, emotional, at peace, joyous and free.
So the next time you find yourself overly stressed, upset, hurting or angry, sing, dance, imagine, and create. These are inner tools that will help you through the pain of your adult life. I love songs from Simon and Garfunkel, and Cat Stevens, The Eagles, Sarah McLaughlin, Dianna Krall, and just about anyone who has songs that are fun to dance to and sing. Coming from my family it was easy to learn to enjoy music as there was live music being played all the time. Growing up my mom would say “oh no get the worm medicine Sharon is dancing again”. It was my play, my joy, my happiness, and it still is.
So be childlike whenever you can, find some songs you love and dance, sing, laugh and be joyous, you will live your life better for it.
I have a dear older friend, Bruce. I just love him. He is such a wonderful man. We spoke one day about the things I love to do and when I told him I love to dance, he giggled. Here he was at the time 83 years old and he was giggling as he told me the story about him and his wife of 64 years. He said, often where ever they found themselves they would dance. He said once they were In PEI on a bus trip with other elderly couples, he was 80 then. The bus was stopped for a restroom break and lunch break. His wife Betty and he were standing back at the bus and in a loving gesture decided to ask her to dance. From the bus he could hear a favorite song playing.
So they danced, holding each other gently he explained as they slowly moved to the music and enjoyed the sounds of the world all around them. For a moment on this trip he said” We were alone with the world”. He said he could hear others coming but dared not stop the moment he and Betty were so enjoying. After the song was over, they stopped the embrace, kissed and separated.
Applause rose from behind them. The others had returned to witness the dance, and they were all impressed. The Bus driver opened the door to allow them all to get on, as he did, the sound of a song came out of the bus, and couples stopped and shared the dance. Bruce said the song was Can I Have This Dance by Anne Murray, a favorite amongst East Coasters. They all danced and he said, after that moment the bus trip had value.
He felt alive and happy and young and in love again. I love this story so much as I know that Betty passed away when she was 81 and that would have been their last long trip together. Bruce is now 94, and although he can no longer dance he can still sing along to his favorite songs, which he plays near his bed daily. I went to see him a few weeks ago and although he is not well, it was wonderful to hear how happy his life is. He kept his inner child alive.
So if you are dealing with heavy loads of stress in your life, maybe some good medicine would be fun, play, laugh, sing, and dance. Be childlike, you will see how healing this will be.
A lovely poem written for me by a very old friend.
The Child sings,
she laughs,
listen to her spirit soar,
free from all the pain and sorrow,
joy on her wings.
The child dances,
she rejoices,
free from all the holds of fear,
free to move and release he past.
She is happy.
Let her sing, let her dance.
In the spirit of the child I have added two fun recipes for spring. Enjoy
Applesauce Bran Muffins, YUMMY
Ingredients
1. 1 egg
2. 1 cup (250 ML) applesauce
3. 2/3 cup (150 ML) buttermilk
4. 1/3 cup (75 ML) packed brown sugar
5. 1/4 cup (50 ML) fancy molasses
6. 1/4 cup (50 ML) Vegetable oil
7. 1 tsp (5 ML) vanilla
8. 1 cup (250 ML) natural wheat bran
9. 2 cups (500 ML) all-purpose flour
10. 1 tsp (5 ML) baking soda
11. 1 tsp (5 ML) cinnamon
12. 1 tsp (5 ML) salt
13. 1 cup (250 ML) raisins
Place oven rack in center of oven; turn on heat to 375°F (190°C). Brush each muffin cup lightly with oil or line with paper liner; set aside.
Break egg into large bowl. Measure: applesauce, buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses, oil and vanilla into same bowl. Whisk together with egg until smooth.
Add bran; with wooden spoon, stir well. Set aside for 5 minutes for bran to soften and absorb some of the liquid.
Measure: flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into separate large bowl. Scrape applesauce mixture over dry ingredients. Sprinkle with raisins; with wooden spoon, stir together until combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Using ice cream scoop or large spoon, fill muffin cups to the top with batter. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden and domed and tops feel firm to the touch.
Wearing oven mitts, remove pans from oven to rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Lift muffins out of pans and let cool completely on rack. (Muffins can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap, enclosed in an airtight container or large freezer bag and frozen for up to 2 weeks.)
Tip: Let wrapped and frozen muffin stand at room temperature for 2 hours before eating. Or unwrap muffin, re-wrap in paper towel and microwave at High for 30 seconds.
Cocoanut Pineapple Cake
Ingredients
2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1 teaspoon(s) salt
1/4 cup(s) well-stirred cream of coconut (from 15-ounce can)*
1 can(s) (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice
1 tablespoon(s) vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
3 large eggs
Silky Coconut Butter Frosting
3/4 cup(s) sugar
1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) well-stirred cream of coconut
2 tablespoon(s) well-stirred cream of coconut
2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1 cup(s) (2 sticks) unsalted butter (no substitutions), softened
Decorations
1 bag(s) (7 ounces, or 2 2/3 cups) sweetened flaked coconut
*Reserve cream of coconut remaining in can (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) to use in frosting recipe
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan
2. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, combine cream of coconut, pineapple with its juice, and vanilla
3. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter just until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition
4. Beat in flour mixture alternately with pineapple mixture just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture and occasionally scraping bowl
5. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen cake from pan; invert onto rack to cool completely.
6. Meanwhile, prepare Silky Coconut Butter Frosting: In 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Gradually stir in cream of coconut until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely
7. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in cream-of-coconut mixture. Makes about 3 cups.
8. either cut the cake in half to make a 2 layer cake or frost like it is
9. frost patting the coconut into the frosting on the cake