Young at Heart

Why kids are the experts on rejuvenation

Ask a skin-care model or those covertly greying men in the Grecian Formula ads: where looks are concerned, we all want to be youthful.

Yet what we eagerly seek on the outside, we routinely bottle up on the inside. Faced with a disapproving adult world, we quickly learn to repress our playfulness, exuberance, and curiosity. We put on poker faces and follow strict schedules that leave no time for fun and games.

As adults, we may continue to look young thanks to our genes or the wonders of cosmetic rejuvenation therapies. But we’ll never enjoy true rejuvenation — complete renewal of the mind, body, and spirit — if we don’t embrace our inner youthfulness.

The secret to rejuvenation is living in the moment. It enables us to get a true break from whatever’s on our minds.

Kids are the undisputed experts at living in the moment. By absorbing deeply whatever the moment has to offer, they’re able to go forward with renewed energy, increased vitality, and a fresh perspective on life. What could be more rejuvenating than that?

Here are five more important lessons about rejuvenation that kids can teach grownups:

1. Give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling.

Have you ever seen babies cry after a spill or being separated from a toy, only to break out into a glorious smile seconds later when someone does something to amuse them? Believe it or not, those babies may actually be schooling us.

Denying and burying your emotions will only leave you stuck in them. You’ll do much better to simply feel whatever you’re feeling without any resistance. All you need to do is let the emotion wash over you and then let go of it when it no longer feels good. You’ll be amazed at how good it can feel (temporarily) to grieve or have a self-righteous fit of anger. After a while, however, these feelings no longer feel good. That’s when it’s time to let them go.

2. Don’t worry, be happy.

Unlike adults, kids don’t splurge a lot of emotional capital on worrying. Part of the reason is because they don’t have as many responsibilities as grownups. But they also aren’t as worried about maintaining their status or a carefully cultivated image (we’re talking about little kids here, not tweens or teens, of course!). For them, each day is a fresh start. Take your cue from the youngsters. Plan ahead, but don’t become bogged down in unhealthy worrying. Focus on enjoying the present, while moving ahead on your goals for the future.

3. Have a laugh.

Laughter isn’t something to be stifled but encouraged. As well as inducing positive emotions and feel-good endorphins, it improves lung capacity and cardiovascular health, and produces antibodies that help to strengthen the immune system. But while a fit of the giggles is considered cute and charming in kids, chances are you’ll be curtly told to “grow up” if you spontaneously burst into laughter as an adult. So try to find some socially acceptable outlets for laughter. Go see a comedy, watch a funny TV show, or spend time with a friend whose witticisms crack you up. Amid all the hilarity, you’ll be experiencing some serious rejuvenating benefits.

4. Get excited.

Everything excites kids: going to the mall, seeing a doggie, the shapes they think they can make out in the clouds. As adults, we may be older, wiser, and a lot more jaded, but we still need to indulge our inherent yearning for childlike wonderment and excitement as often as we can.

What thrills and captivates you? If it’s the beauty of nature, go for long nature walks. If it’s the mysteries of the universe, buy a telescope and explore the heavens from your backyard. If it’s a favorite musical artist, make a point of seeing them the next time they’re in town. Make whatever excites and inspires an integral part of your rejuvenation program.

5. Get out and have fun.

Remember when your friends used to show up at your door and ask your parents if you could “come out and play?” While those days of sandboxes and jumping jacks may be done, we still need to get out and have fun if we want to enjoy rejuvenation. Playing a sport like baseball lets us socialize and have an excuse to run around and think of nothing beyond catching and hitting a baseball. The arts offer another potential playground for adults. In fact, according to a Swedish study, attendance at cultural events, reading, and playing music may even help you to live longer.

No matter what your preferred form of rejuvenation, give yourself ample opportunities to laugh, get excited, have fun, and generally feel like a kid again. No kidding!

Did you know?

In its earliest usage, the word “rejuvenation” — derived from the Latin root word for “young” — literally meant to become young again.