Children really are the miracle of life…

by Rhiannon Rees - Nibbana Healing Spa (c) Whistler Question


I am listening to the yelps and shrieks of laughter that are peeling out of my son’s young mouth. His gurgly, sporadic giggles are peppered with the huge gasps of air as he tries to catch his breath before slipping into the next round of tummy tensing hysteria. The staccato giggles overflow into the beautiful well manicured hedges before spilling out onto the street. They are contagious and before I know it, I am giggling too.

This energy is bubbling forth from a lambsy baby with a cheeky grin and knowing, telling eyes. There is no doubt that this symphony of music will meander down the street and enshroud with love and joy whomever it encircles. He is changing the world, my boy, one giggle at a time. One loving laugh at a time. It is delightful to behold. A child reminds us to look at the world through their innocent and pure eyes.

To see the simple things. To see things for the first time – every time. What a beautiful trait – to take a situation for face value and not be biased by a previous experience. The first time that my child saw a beautiful shimmery Christmas tree adorned with many twinkly trinkets, he stopped and gazed at each decoration. He gleefully yelled at the top of his voice, “pretties, mama, …..pretties.” He looked the tree up and down and inspected it very closely. He found the smallest trinket ant the bottom of the tree and this was his very favorite. He could touch it and play with it. It was at his level.

Did you know that on average, a child will giggle and laugh at least 20 times a day, yet an adult will only laugh 4 to 5 times a day. Where did things get so serious?

So what happens to us that we forget to laugh as much as we get older?? We no longer find the sparkle in truly sparkly things.If only we treated everyone the way we treat a child. We croon and gloat over them. We wait anxiously in line to hold their small bodies. To feel their warm and soft breath on our cheek. We touch them with the most gentle, caring hand as though we could leave an impression on their gossamer skin if we hold them too tightly.

What is it that stops us treating everyone as though we can see their inner child?? If we delighted in the company of adults the way we do in the company of small children, can you imagine what sort of a place the world would be?? We would be more honest and nurturing. We would be more encouraging. We would be less judgmental and take people for face value without expecting any hidden agendas. We would have more fun with each other and revel in the silliness of completely insignificant things. We would stop and smell the roses. Let’s try and remember how we are with small children and let’s try to see the cute, adorable. loving and giving child inside each one of us.

Change
by Rhiannon Rees - Nibbana Healing Spa
posting courtesy of Whistler Question newspaper

Change is certain, but whether or not we can get use to change and accept it is an entirely different situation altogether. The only certainties in life are that we will be born into this life and that we will eventually pass away.

Eventually is not even certain. The truth is we could pass away in any number of ways that we can’t even imagine. So, given that change is certain, why are we always trying to control and plan our lives. Mostly because we feel that we are in the driver’s seat and that in some strange way it makes us feel better or safe. It makes us feel as if we can be more certain of the outcome of whatever we are controlling…. Who are we kidding???

I grew up in an environment of continual change. So I am thankful in a way for this. A life of change creates little space for “hanging on to” anything. But, I have to be honest; I still struggle in one area. I struggle with change in close personal relationships. Maybe we all do. When you are very use to things being a certain way, it’s very easy to get use to the dynamics of a relationship.

It’s even easier to put people in boxes even though people are always evolving. Recently, I caught up with a friend I have known for 10 years. I have not seen him in the last 3 years. He had changed and amidst this change I was searching for the relationship that we had before. Of course, I too have changed, but it’s harder to see change in yourself. We can’t ever get too comfortable, because when we least expect it we will be dealt a situation that we may or may not be able to handle, but the truth is if we can shed a positive light on it, then we truly have the opportunity to grow and expand in ways that we can’t even visualize.

Some of the most interesting situations of “getting stuck” occur in our close families.It is hard for us to see that how our siblings or parent have changed, because we “see” them in a certain way. This is because we develop habitual ways to handle situations and we lose the ability to see outside the box. We use the reference point that we have, but maybe, we have had it for so long that it does not even apply. Next time you are in a situation that seems strange or things have changed in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. Ask questions and communicate what you are feeling it is the only way you will ever know exactly what has changed.

Change is inevitable so get use to it.