This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Amna Faheem. Find her on Instagram at @amnaf.aheem. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Your early twenties are a period full of consistent change- which is ironic- and a seemingly never-ending cycle of altering yourself and discovering who you are while questioning your whole existence. The thrust into the ‘real world’ after graduation is jarring. We have been in school our whole lives. We have had routine, set schedules. We had themed birthday parties and field trips. Art shows and show-and-tells. We played outside in our sandboxes or went to museums. Being a child was the best thing ever, and all we could think about was how badly we wanted to grow up.
As the years went on, though, and we became bogged down with midterms, S.A.T. practices, the dramas of high school friend groups, and college applications, we forgot the triumphs of racing on our bikes with our neighbors. We once were fascinated by the fireflies outside and playing the floor with lava on the couch. Then, academia and careers took over our minds. We forgot how to play hopscotch and wipe our top lips clean after drinking chocolate milk.
When did we forget to be young?
When did the world become so busy that we no longer knew how to have fun?
In the struggle of growing up and deciding what is childlike vs childish, we have determined that most everything is childish.
An Internal Struggle
It’s easy to make ourselves feel that the things we once liked are too silly to engage in. You pay taxes now, so how could you still enjoy the same cartoon you did ten years ago? You have a nine-to-five, so eating dinosaur nuggets for dinner is foolish.
You’ve grown, so doing anything fun is too wild of a thought.
But that’s not how things should be. We should not eliminate the things we love just because we took part in them when we were young. Holding onto our youthful whimsy should not be a battle of childlike vs childish. There is nothing childish about including things in your routine that bring you delight.
And so, here are seven suggestions on how to hold on to the pep in your step and not lose your zeal for life!
Media Consumption
Our generation had some of the most prominent shows and movies in pop culture. The ‘Shrek’ franchise, Toy Story and Monsters Inc., the ‘Lorax,’- they hold a prime spot in our adolescent memories. Not to mention the Disney hits: ‘Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie,’ ‘The Lizzie McGuire Movie,’ and ‘The Princess Diaries.’ These films were all a massive aspect of our growth.
Revisiting ‘The Suite Life on Deck’ because you thought it was funny or rewatching ‘Home Alone’ because it was interesting to you is a wonderful way to stay in touch with the child inside. Those programs represented us as kids, and there’s nothing wrong with putting them on!
Artistic Hobbies
Finger painting was most likely one of the most enjoyable activities one could take part in as a child. Thinking about it now, the reaction is one of dismissal and rejection; What a moronic idea. But if you humor yourself for just a moment you’ll remember how giddy you once were with your apron on and your easel getting messy.
Drawing in coloring books used to be something solely a third grader would do, but it was so fun. Playing with PlayDoh and coloring with oil pastels were all things that used to be so exciting to us. Being creative again without holding yourself back can make all the difference
You don’t outgrow fun.
Natural Adventures
The way to become the coolest person on the playground was to be able to run the fastest and swing the highest. Playing hopscotch was a way to establish your popularity. Making the biggest sandcastles was how you impressed everyone.
You don’t have to visit a playground to feel those emotions again. But buying some chalk and drawing outside or inviting your friends and playing in the sprinklers is a splendid way of saying hello to the little person you once were.
Culinary Endeavors
The older you get, the more boring food seems to become. ‘Trix Are For Kids,’ seems to have been taken quite seriously. Lucky Charms decreased their presence in our cabinets. Danimals don’t take residence in our fridges and Scooby-Doo graham crackers are no where to be found. It’s not that these snacks aren’t produced anymore, we’ve just forgotten to look for them.
So, next time you’re walking down the snack aisle or browsing in your grocery store, take note of something you used to love as a kid. And buy it.
Ensemble Aesthetics
The clothing style that was trending in the 2010s was not necessarily the most attractive. Yet as we get older, our options seem to become more lifeless with neutral colors and uniform outfits taking over our streets.
Presently, pops of color, playing with patterns and accessories in your attire, can go a long way. The low-rise look is easy to recreate, and chunky belts and layering can be styled to perfection!
Online Entertainment
The early 2000s birthed a plethora of children’s entertainment. There was Wii, Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort, Wii U. We had the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo DSI. Club Penguin and Webkinz stole hours of your time.
Firing up the old console or locating your old Nintendo could be so thrilling. Sword fighting on Wii Sports Resort with friends might become your favorite thing again.
Frivolous Exhilaration
As kids, there were so many things that made our hearts warm. Rollercoasters excited us. Zoo animals charmed us. We loved carnivals and face paint. Making bracelets bonded us with friends, and visiting water parks electrified us. Nowhere does it say these things are only for people below a certain age.
The balance of childlike vs childish should never lean towards the latter. Your interest or participation in these affairs does not make you any less sophisticated. Taking part in the same ventures as you once did years ago does not demean you as an adult. We all deserve to find bliss and pleasure regardless of our age. There is nothing childish about staying connected to the little you.
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