Fearless as a Five-Year-Old

Fear is one of the great thieves and villains that steal off into the night with our true potential and possibilities. Fear is the main driving force that causes us to re-think great inspired thoughts and freezes action in its tracks. Fear re-routes our lives away from the bright flame of success toward the dull shadows of mediocrity.

Fear, it should be stated from the outset, is not real. It has no substance. Fear is a psychological tormentor void of direction or proof of outcome.

Yesterday afternoon I was able to sit on a park bench and view what life is like when it is absolved of fear. I finished up early and was able to take my five-year-old son, Jonah, for a bike ride and a play at the park down the road. Not long after we arrived at the park, I was dismissed for a little girl maybe a year or two younger than Jonah.

They climbed the stairs. Slid down the slide. Ran and laughed and talked like they had been best friends since their freshman year in pampers. I sat back on the park bench doing my parent-guardian work, making sure he didn't climb too high or that strangers were not too close. (I know, I'm one of those crazy overprotective parents who can't shut off that switch.)

Anyway, it was what I watched and heard on the slide that brought me to writing this perspective. Out of the blue they began to challenge each other to mimic the carefully choreographed stunts of the other. "Oh, yeah? I betcha can't do this!" the little girl stated with great confidence. "Oh, you mean like this?" Jonah replied. The challenges alternated between sliding down backwards to sliding down standing up or making the trip with legs spread wide, straddling the entire width of the slide.

There was never a moment of hesitation from either one of them. Each time the gauntlet was thrown down, the other rose to the challenge.

I noted when it was time to head home for dinner there was a winner. Make that winners. Both won the challenge with equal resolve.

Riding home, I thought about how often we get to see that kind of fearless abandon in the adult world, in our pursuit of our hopes and goals and dreams. Once again a great lesson came my way from a little boy and a girl, not yet ready to cross the road on their own but wise in ways most of us find it hard to equal.

Here's the lesson in this, I guess: Next time you set out to do something or have something or become someone, adopt this philosophy. Be as fearless as a five-year-old.

Have an excellent day.