See with the Eyes of a Child Again

What takes you Back?

Were you the creative child who can just smell the new box of crayons or the can of play-dough and you’re right there at 5 years old again? How about the sound of the Ice Cream Truck playing it’s little bells and tunes? Does the sand between your toes or wading in the lake do it? Or does the scent of freshly baked cookies pull you right back to Mom’s kitchen? For many, picnicing, grilling, baseball, and hot dogs can take them there. Whatever it is, the more you can recreate that experience, the more you’ll appreciate the world before you. It’s recreating that feeling in some way, shape, or form.

For my family, it was taking us out of the ordinary world, and out to the lake. Lake Michigan, in all its glory, whether while visiting relatives in Michigan & heading to my uncle’s pontoon boat at St. Joe’s, or hitting the Dunes down in Indiana with friends, or driving downtown to North Ave Beach, the Lake was our go to place. My sister loved to be on a boat, cruising the lake. For my brothers, it was fishing. For me, it was on the beach. Each is a whole body relaxation memory that is rejuvenating and healthy down to the cellular level. Researchers know that the same parts of the brain that hold pleasurable experiences light up when we head into remembering mode.

So look at the world around you with your child eyes. Smell the sweet green of summer. Feel the wind caress your hair. Taste the glorious fruits of the season. Indulge in the ice cream cone. Bring in the colors of deep blue and turquoise like the sea. Eat outside surrounded by flowers. Gaze at the night sky filled with millions of diamonds. Watch the moon come up. Each sunrise/sunset, each breath of fresh air, each memory of great times gone by, refreshes the soul.