Act My Age
At the ripe old age of 16, I still sleep with my stuffed animals every night. After being hunched over my laptop for hours at school, jumping into bed with my stuffed animals is my favorite way to end a long day. My stuffed animal collection consists of the softest and fluffiest Shiba Inu plush ever, a pink Build-A-Bear with curly fur and a pink bow to match, and a lavender dinosaur with rainbow-colored spikes lining its spine. I consider my stuffed animals my comfort objects and each one holds a special place in my heart.
Many would consider this habit of mine to be childish or silly. My parents like to laugh and scoff at my stuffed animal collection and they always tell me that I’ve wasted money buying them and that I’m too old for stuffed toys.
But I think that sort of mindset is, ironically, outdated. As we grow older, the responsibilities, tough decisions, and stress of life weigh us down. We try so hard to keep up with all the adult obligations we have to fulfill, that we end up losing touch of who we really are. We become riddled with anxiety and stress and grow too serious. But I believe that by looking back at our younger selves, we can learn some valuable lessons about how to enjoy life to the fullest.
The iconic 2000s romcom, 13 Going On 30, is about how a 13-year-old girl named Jenna Rink is magically transported into her 30-year-old body in the future and realizes that while her life may appear glamorous, she is not where she wants to be. Throughout the movie, we see how Jenna’s youthful and carefree attitude helps her meet new friends, make amends with people her 30-year-old self has wronged, and enhances her creativity at work. She dances in the rain and wears colorful clothes, without letting her age hold her back.
Children can teach us to embrace an easygoing and optimistic outlook on life and to strive to have an active imagination. Like Jenna, we can learn to live in the moment and be unapologetically ourselves, no matter our age. We can learn to find joy in the simple things, whether it be dancing in the rain or sleeping with stuffed animals. Sometimes being “childish” might be the best thing you can do for yourself.