Written By Fatima Cruz, CityHeART Creative Connect Intern
I’ve turned into a workaholic. I can’t tell you when or how this happened. Just one day, I realized that basically my entire life was about work. As I’ve reflected, I thought back to when I last thought life was easier. I’m transported back to being ten years old; back to when I would look forward to sitting down in front of my TV for the after-school cartoons. Back to when I would finish a book a week, eagerly heading back to my local library to get my next read. When did I stop prioritizing myself and what made me happy? Through this journey to rediscover who I am outside of work, I’ve come to realize that rediscovering my inner child played a huge part of my journey.
Hobbies
Hobbies are one of the ways in which I’ve learned to rediscover my inner child. Specifically, picking up the old hobbies I used to love. As mentioned earlier, reading was one of my main loves back in the day. I loved the thrill of being transported to another world; there was nothing like it. I was immersed into Greek mythology and sci-fi universes all in the corner of my living room. Even though my reading taste has changed as I’ve grown, I will never fail to appreciate that break from reality. Getting back into reading has brought back a joy and appreciation for art.
Another hobby that keeps me in tune with my inner child is collecting trinkets. The image I provided above is just one of my collections of trinkets, one of them being calico critters. There was always this pressure to grow up quickly, pressuring me to give up toys at a younger age than I would have liked. Now at twenty one, I am unapologetic about this hobby as I have found many others that enjoy this same hobby. Collecting these “toys” has allowed me to experience child-like joy again with opening mystery boxes, arranging their display, and finding friends who also enjoy collecting trinkets.
Loved Ones
Being around people that I can be myself with has allowed me to discover my inner child as well. I can be comfortable around these people, allowing myself to be as silly and honest as I was as a child. My friends also inspire me as they are unapologetically themselves, especially through their sense of style. They inspired me to do the same, which reminds me of how I loved dressing in all the vibrant colors I did as a kid.
Overall, being engaged in the activities I love and the people surrounding me allow me to rediscover the joy I had once felt as a child. Taking the time to feel that child-like joy again has helped me also discover other joyful aspects of life.