Tag: dailyprompt-2106

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

enjoyment of the present moment.

For me, this way of connecting to the world manifests in my interactions with children, even as young as one year old. When I talk to children, I speak to them as equals, in a clear, respectful tone—no baby talk. Just yesterday, I met a child, around two years old, in the supermarket. We had a five- or six-minute conversation, and he stayed focused, fully engaged, and seemed to enjoy every word. I told him he was smart and gifted and encouraged him never to let anyone change him. His response was pure joy, smiling and laughing with me the whole time. I later told his mother I’d write a blog about him. Perhaps one day, you’ll see a children’s book called Oliver dedicated to that very moment.

My wife often jokes that my natural connection with kids comes from my “childlike mentality,” and my mother would agree—she remembers me as the most lovable child. She used to worry because I’d jump into the arms of total strangers, which, to her, signified my innate warmth and openness as a “people person.”

At 72, my love for characters like Tom Sawyer, who embodies the adventurous spirit of youth, is as strong as ever. My mind stays active with new ideas, and nearly every day, I come up with concepts for books. When I see people of my age, or older, struggle with cognitive decline, I feel grateful for the mental clarity I’ve retained. Life has taken me over mountains of challenges, but I’m blessed with health and the creative energy to keep going.

Reflecting on my younger years, I know I made choices that may have slowed me down. I smoked my first cigarette at twelve and tried my first joint at fourteen. But even with those choices, I feel like I’ve retained my youthful spirit and curiosity. Had I not done these things, perhaps I’d still be writing well into my hundreds.

Being a “kid at heart,” then, is about staying young in both mind and spirit—finding wonder in life, sharing joy freely, and keeping one’s imagination alive.