"Never Grow Up"

Since we were little we were always told we can be whatever we want to be. I remember in grade school everyone wanted to be something along the lines of a policeman, astronaut, rock star, or a princess. Have those desires to dream big changed as we have grown? I mean honestly... I still want to be a princess and I guess I could be, but I have bigger dreams. 

I work at an elementary school and when I talk to them I feel as if I am young again. I feel like I am 80% filled with imagination and 20% adrenaline because they are so enthusiastic it is contagious. All of a sudden I am careless, wanting to do all the things I wanted to do when I was child, plus all of the things I want to do now as I have grown. I want to teach them that they can do the things they dream of and I want to be as encouraging as I possibly can. But what I am stuck on is, where does this passion and drive go? As we get older fantasies become reality and we become different. I realize we must mature and change but why must our imagination and creativity go too? I would almost give anything to be as courageous and excited about life like I was when I was younger. I also understand that life must happen and that things will get hard and cause us to stumble, but wow... to have the heart and mind of child again...

Taylor Swift (my favorite!) puts these feelings into words so perfectly:

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Sometimes I wish I never grew up, but then I remember that we should not regret our pasts. We should embrace the lives we have been given and I thank God each and everyday for the life He has given me. I just wish life would slow down a little. Growing up feels like it all happens in a week. I want to pause life and go back and reminisce on each day. With all of this being said... I don't think growing up is necessarily why we loose our creativity and wild imaginations.  I think we believe that we must take on these roles of being a "grown up", but what is a grown up anyway? A successful person with a good job making a lot of money? A person with a steady life that is busy all day, everyday? If that is what a grown up is then count me out. I think I will just be a grown kid. This way I will never have the mindset to grow up and change myself completely... I will still be able to channel my inner kid. 

Deuteronomy 14:1 says: "You are the children of Lord you God." Matthew 5:14 says: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." I know these verses don't necessarily go together, but they can! We can shine the light of God as children, adults, elderly, etc. No matter what, we must shine and never feel like we are going dem. I hope this blog inspires you to keep dreaming and teach others too as well. Stay true to your inner kid, too.