Stay a while, my inner child.

[Something-Vague]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AA9i8S87ME

Are there any important aspects of yourself as a child that you still retain or wish that you did?

What would you do if you felt more hopeful?

 

[Opaline]

That's an interesting question. Funny because I was very recently thinking about certain qualities I possessed as a child that I wish I still had.

I used to be able to read books very quickly, and I could sit in the middle of a noisy room and read and not get distracted - my attention would remain completely absorbed by the book. Now even in a quiet room alone I can't concentrate at all and it's maddening. My mind wanders constantly and I have to reread sentences over and over.

I noticed too that when I was a kid, even though I went through periods of not having many friends around, I was content with my own company for long periods of time. I did get lonely, but I always found something to do, and I was creative and imaginative and liked to be inside my own head. I'm only like that now when I'm not depressed - depression makes me afraid to be alone for too long with my own thoughts, and I get horribly lonely. I find it sad - I miss being comfortable with myself, like having a good friend around.

Ahem. Anyway. That was depressing

What about you - you didn't answer your own question

 

[nodejesque]

I miss being fearless. I was always very shy, much more than now as an adult. Quiet, and enjoyed my own company. BUT I was fearless. I would explore, climb, I had all these ideas of challenging society an changing the world...

I feared no one and nothing. I had the belief that there was good in everyone and that I could save the world. A romantic viewpoint of many things.

I wish I could have kept much of that alive.

 

[LoyalXenite]

I miss the confidence I had in my own strength, I've always struggled with mental illness, diagnosed depression since the age of 7, but it was no where near as bad as it is now.

I also had dreams for myself, I had hopes.

I feel like im just a bitter husk of what I used to be, but Im working on it. Im trying to be kinder to myself...trying

 

[S_Spartan]

When I was a child I instinctively knew how to feel alive. As an adult I feel mostly dead inside.

 

[Graeme1988]

Wish I'd retained my passion for knowledge and learning new things. Oh, and my creative imagination along with my quick, witty sense of humour. My ability to cope despite everything around me going to crap.

And ma dimple-cheeked smile, which nowadays looks so freakin' fake - unless I'm laughing - compared to when I was 6. I guess I miss being native and happy the most, despite everythin' I've endure in my life.

 

[Something-Vague]

That's an interesting question. Funny because I was very recently thinking about certain qualities I possessed as a child that I wish I still had...

I was the same exact way, Opaline! I read books quite frequently and always finished them without inattention. Now, I feel distracted in general from reading books, and when I do attempt, I have the SAME problem as you. Sometimes I will go back pages multiple times, just to reread it again. mg:

I didn't mean to depress you! I started this thread in the hopes of causing people to reflect and perhaps reconnect, rekindle their passions and dreams

As for me, I think I miss being less afraid to ask questions or appear unintelligent if I wanted to learn something, less afraid to be silly and obnoxious and weird without a care to what other's thought.

 

[Something-Vague]

I miss being fearless. I was always very shy, much more than now as an adult. Quiet, and enjoyed my own company. BUT I was fearless. I would explore, climb, I had all these ideas of challenging society an changing the world...

I feared no one and nothing. I had the belief that there was good in everyone and that I could save the world. A romantic viewpoint of many things.

I wish I could have kept much of that alive.

Oh, nodejesque. (((hugs))) I know what you mean. Seeing the love, the beauty, the life in everything. Feeling like you can make a difference. When one grows up, we become a lot more cynical as we know how society works. But hopefully, we can manage to not the let spark die. I still believe there's hope, somewhere, somehow.

 

[Something-Vague]

I miss the confidence I had in my own strength, I've always struggled with mental illness, diagnosed depression since the age of 7, but it was no where near as bad as it is now.

I also had dreams for myself, I had hopes.

I feel like im just a bitter husk of what I used to be, but Im working on it. Im trying to be kinder to myself...trying

LoyalXenite,

It gladdens my heart to know you are trying to be more accepting and loving towards yourself. Don't give up on your hopes and dreams. Sometimes we have to alter the exact plan or end-goal because of curves and twists and speed bumps, but I still think we can manage to reach some of what we hope and strive for

 

[Kaekae]

I miss my imagination and creativity. I used to spend countless hours drawing all these scenes and characters that I had conjured up but now I find inspiration really hard to come by.

 

[Something-Vague]

Wish I'd retained my passion for knowledge and learning new things. Oh, and my creative imagination along with my quick, witty sense of humour. My ability to cope despite everything around me going to crap.

And ma dimple-cheeked smile, which nowadays looks so freakin' fake - unless I'm laughing - compared to when I was 6. I guess I miss being native and happy the most, despite everythin' I've endure in my life.

Graeme,

I get where you're coming from. We become so much more rigid as we grow older, becoming more set in our own ways. I bet you still have your imagination and humor in there somewhere, and I hope someday you can find it again You being alive now shows that you have handled things in the way you can at the time with the tools you had available. Don't give up on that smile, on yourself.

 

[Graeme1988]

Graeme,

I get where you're coming from. We become so much more rigid as we grow older, becoming more set in our own ways. I bet you still have your imagination and humor in there somewhere, and I hope someday you can find it again

Well, currently both my imagination and sense of humour are about as non-existent as the Loch Ness monster.

You being alive now shows that you have handled things in the way you can at the time with the tools you had available.

Wouldn't exact say keeping quiet, internalising ma frustrations and problems has been the best way of handling thing. Would you, eh?

And if me being alive now shows anything, it's that - despite the popular belief - single mothers don't away make the best parents.

Though, that's said, ma family are a few slices short of a loaf - ie,

- so ye cannae really blame me for keeping to myself.

Don't give up on that smile, on yourself.

Thanks... :brindis: Ah think I'll just leave it at that, rather than end this post with a dour, pessimistic statement.