Children really are the miracle of life…

by Rhiannon Rees - Nibbana Healing Spa (c) Whistler Question


I am listening to the yelps and shrieks of laughter that are peeling out of my son’s young mouth. His gurgly, sporadic giggles are peppered with the huge gasps of air as he tries to catch his breath before slipping into the next round of tummy tensing hysteria. The staccato giggles overflow into the beautiful well manicured hedges before spilling out onto the street. They are contagious and before I know it, I am giggling too.

This energy is bubbling forth from a lambsy baby with a cheeky grin and knowing, telling eyes. There is no doubt that this symphony of music will meander down the street and enshroud with love and joy whomever it encircles. He is changing the world, my boy, one giggle at a time. One loving laugh at a time. It is delightful to behold. A child reminds us to look at the world through their innocent and pure eyes.

To see the simple things. To see things for the first time – every time. What a beautiful trait – to take a situation for face value and not be biased by a previous experience. The first time that my child saw a beautiful shimmery Christmas tree adorned with many twinkly trinkets, he stopped and gazed at each decoration. He gleefully yelled at the top of his voice, “pretties, mama, …..pretties.” He looked the tree up and down and inspected it very closely. He found the smallest trinket ant the bottom of the tree and this was his very favorite. He could touch it and play with it. It was at his level.

Did you know that on average, a child will giggle and laugh at least 20 times a day, yet an adult will only laugh 4 to 5 times a day. Where did things get so serious?

So what happens to us that we forget to laugh as much as we get older?? We no longer find the sparkle in truly sparkly things.If only we treated everyone the way we treat a child. We croon and gloat over them. We wait anxiously in line to hold their small bodies. To feel their warm and soft breath on our cheek. We touch them with the most gentle, caring hand as though we could leave an impression on their gossamer skin if we hold them too tightly.

What is it that stops us treating everyone as though we can see their inner child?? If we delighted in the company of adults the way we do in the company of small children, can you imagine what sort of a place the world would be?? We would be more honest and nurturing. We would be more encouraging. We would be less judgmental and take people for face value without expecting any hidden agendas. We would have more fun with each other and revel in the silliness of completely insignificant things. We would stop and smell the roses. Let’s try and remember how we are with small children and let’s try to see the cute, adorable. loving and giving child inside each one of us.