Dear Kid,
It’s OK to still be a kid. Age has nothing to do with it.
As a Sage recently (and helpfully) pointed out, there is a world of difference between being childish and being childlike.
Child-ish in someone no longer in single digits (age-wise) is generally not a good thing. It implies all the whiney, self-centered behaviors we generally associate with a tired and hungry three year old. (Not a pleasant being.)
Child-like on the other hand is wonderful in a person of any number of digits (age-wise). It implies having a carefree spirit, being able to enjoy the little things, putting aside the “I’m too old for that” attitude.
As a sage-ette pointed out, time and place have a lot to do with the appropriateness of behavior too. Running up and down the aisle at a funeral with child-like abandon is not appropriate. At the same time, dressing somberly and looking like you are contemplating a significant business deal at a kid’s birthday party is equally out of place.
College is a time to balance being an adult but not losing all ability to be child-like.
As I may have mentioned once or twice, we miss out on a lot of fun stuff when we decide we’re too old, too mature, too whatever to enjoy life.
While we didn’t get to go to EPCOT the other day, I hope you have plenty of opportunity in 2014 to practice child-like joy.
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