A beautiful afternoon, while I was sitting on a bench at a park near my house contemplating life, the sound of children playing and laughing nearby caught my attention.
Their laughter and happiness brought on a bliss that I rarely feel.
At that exact moment, all my anxieties seemed to have evaporated, making life look beautiful and meaningful once more.
Those brief thirty-minute observing the children play made me realize that there are critical life lessons we can learn from them.
Despite having more obligations than a child, we can still draw from them to savor a more joyful and a less stressful life.
I am sharing nine lessons I learned that day with you.
βTrue happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.β
Seneca
Table of Contents
Every Day Is a New Day

The worries of adult life often interfere with our joie de vivre. To live a happier existence, we can center our minds to the present instead of relegating mistakes or focusing unduly on the future.
Avoid worrying about problems that are beyond your control. The mental energies we spend in distress leave no space for creative thinking, problem solving, and pleasure. Worrying less will not only bring you more life satisfaction, it will also improve your health and relationships. Every day is a fresh start, make the most of it!
Make Every Little Thing Count

How mindful would you be going down a slide? Or looking at the wave of the sea? We often take the little moments that make up life for granted. We share our new BMW on social media, our acceptance to an elite school, or wedding day, but donβt appreciate the air flowing to our lungs or the sun gracing our skin.
Kids, regardless of how mundane the task theyβre involved in, give it their undivided attention. It’s exhilarating to expect a promotion, get a raise, or purchase a new house, but it’s also just as important to breathe, communicate with a friend, or savor a cat playing. Cherish each moment, just as a child would.
Never Stop Asking Questions

We are all endowed with the natural ability to question everything. Thatβs how we make sense of everything around us. However, as we age, that natural sense of wonder diminishes. Itβs not a coincidence given we spend our school year learning to answer questions. Research has shown that curiosity is directly associated with the hippocampus, a small organ in the temporal lobe responsible for information processing and long-term memory. Thus, reconnecting with that natural blueprint will not only increase our memory but also will decrease internal inconsistencies, and make us happier.
βPlay is the highest of form of research.β
Albert Einstein
Be Playful
Being playful is not just a childish way of expressing oneself, but a demonstration of true inner joy and satisfaction. Playfulness can increase our creativity, strengthen our resilience to face life adversities, and imagination. David M. Keller, co-founder of IDEO and Abraham Maslow, credit their playfulness for their most important breakthroughs. If you look back at those moments you were playful, youβll certainly recall being at your best.
βPlay energizes and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.β
Stuart Brown
Donβt Let Peopleβs Judgment Stop You

Exterior pressures lead to timidity, aversion to risk, complacency, and skepticism. As we grow older, we want to be right lest we be judged by others. That fear of being judged paralyzes us from fully enjoying our lives. How would your life be different if you didnβt let other peopleβs opinion of you deter you? Obviously, we still need to respect others, but if we let go of that fear, weβll increase our capacity for joy and happiness.
βOur children can be our greatest teachers if we are humble enough to receive their lessons.β
Bryan McGill
Learn to Forget
Children, even after being reprimanded, possess the extraordinary power to let go and move on with no resentment. This is a skill that adults can learn with dedication, just like any other. I am not saying itβs unhealthy to be angry, but when we hold on to anger longer than necessary, we sabotage ourselves, destroy our happiness and health. Recall someone you need to forgive, call them right now, and forgive and see how you feel.
Keep Experimenting

βMan cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.β
Andre Gide
Ever take the time to watch a kid learn to walk? They stand up, fall, and stand up again. They donβt worry about falling and will try as much as possible until they master their skills. But as we get reprimanded at home and at school for making mistakes, our natural tendency to experiment dims.
Achieving success requires the ability to handle failure. If your failures are being used, and perceived for what they are β temporary setbacks to strengthen us β then you are ready to enjoy life on a whole new level.
Yours Dreams Can Come True
Dreaming is essential for a life of productivity and fulfillment. We are born with the ability to dream, but as we age, life’s many challenges close us off to dreaming and growing. Just like a child, step out of your head, dream as if reality had no bearing on you living your dreams. Remember, our dreams are often our best weapon against the negative pulls of past regrets and current challenges.
Just like a child, step out of your head, dream as if reality had no bearing on you living your dreams.
Bachir Bastien
The World Is Your Oyster

The little voice in your head telling you itβs too good to be true becomes stronger with age. Just like a toddler, itβs absolutely necessary you remind yourself that nothing is too good for you, no matter how undeserving it may seem. As children of God, we have the right to the best there is if we work hard enough for it. Operating within the confines of the belief that nothing outstanding is supposed to happen to us limits from ever doing anything great and enjoying life. Get up and get ready. The best is yet to come!
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Learning to maintain that natural state of happiness by emulating a child should not be a euphoria, but a goal that we all can attain. As Henry James puts it: βLive all you can; itβs a mistake not to. It doesnβt so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you havenβt had that, what have you had?β May you enjoy a happy and fulfilling life that I believe is yours by right.
This is why grandparents (me included) are so enamored of their grandchildren. We get to observe the magical developmental progress of these new little ones with more detachment yet utter devotion, than when we were completely responsible for every minute of their parent’s wellbeing. We are given the opportunity to once again be taught by loving a child which evokes our own capacity to become a wise child in response.
I couldnβt agree more. Even though I donβt have children on my own I can totally understand how much joy and pride there is to see oneβs kids grow.
All these lessons are worth following for the grown up people to derive happiness from life.
Absolutely! A true gold mine
so true. We can really gather a lot from them
Yess indeed. Thank you π for commenting.
Children are amazing. I love that when they run, they have no thought of how they look with their arms and legs flaying! No thought of being judged.
Haha exactly. The absence of fear of being judged is something we can learn from them.
Brilliant observations and tips. I agree we would be happier and less stressed if we can take a leaf out of the page of children
Absolutely! Itβs difficult not to be happy in front of the little ones.
Loved
Absolutely π―
So true.
Great tips β¨
Our little ones are a goldmine. Thank you for commenting
Working with children is so much fun, they remind me to keep my inner child alive.
Yess!! I love working with them.
Children are born to be naturally happy and fearless! its only when they grow up they forget the main reason why they were born! your blog truly nudged me and got me closer to how we need to be more child like!
Yes you are absolutely right. Hopefully we can always activate our learning power. Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your thoughts.
I learn a lot from my childrens π
They are a source inexhaustible of wisdom
Thank you for your support
Youβre much welcome. Thank you for stopping by.
Great tips! Well shared π
Thank you Priti.
Welcome βΊοΈ
Wonderful post and here’s to the children and your great post Bachir! π
Thank you Cindy β€οΈ
A pleasureπ
Love this post! I worked with children for years after having 4 of my own. The thing I loved most about working with children was the fact that they don’t judge you. They love unconditionally and as long as you treat them well they will love you. Also, they are so eager to do any activity you present to them and so quick to forgive if something happens to them. Children are amazing, especially my grandchildren (hehe). Thanks for this reminder!
Wow thank you Roze for such an amazing and detailed sharing. You are right, their love is unconditional and flexible. I am sure your grandkids are amazing too.
So true.Wonderful post!
Yeah! There are so much to learn from kids.
This is brilliant! Thanks so much for writing this. It’s got such great advice for us that are getting older.
Thank you for your comments. They taught me so much. I am glad you enjoyed my article.
You’re most welcome!
Outstanding post bachir bastien.
Thank you Dr. Prakash. Thatβs nice of you.
Enjoyed reading this!
thank you π
Enjoyed reading this!
Thank you for your kind words π
A very good article that I absolutely agree with!
Thank you Salma π
thank you for this. I need to be a child once again.
We all need to be:) You are welcome π
Agreed. We all need to be more childlike. We may have to grow old, but we need not grow up. Cheers.
You are right. We canβt let the child in us die. Thank you for stopping by.
Yes! Great approach, Bachir.
Thank you π
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Thank you for stopping by.