Why “Stay Childlike?”

That’s a good question. It’s one of the first things that popped up in my head as I was conceiving Inteesive Thoughts.

I think it’s mostly because I’m a Dad and staying childlike has become not only a lifeline, but has actually become a bit of fun.

So here’s a few key ingredients to childlikeness; trust, curiosity and humility.

For better or for worse, kiddos are incredibly trusting bunch. My kids may think I’m the strongest man alive and that I know everything. I’m no macho man or scholar, and that will become apparent to them as they get older, but for now, it’s less that my children truly think this about me, but more they trust the fruit of those qualities in me.

I can’t bench a ton, but they trust I’ll protect them. I don’t have a doctorate, but they trust I’ll think through solutions to problems with them the best I can.

Being childlike is being willing to trust.

Two and three are a package deal. PB &J if you will.

Curiosity and humility.

A life without curiosity may keep your cat alive, but it’ll keep your pride alive too.

You can’t have genuine curiosity without acknowledging the gap in your current understanding. We grow up and take this as an offense to our identity. But when your childlike it’s an invitation,not an insult.

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There’s an episode of a children’s show called Bluey where a dad asks his daughter, “How many games are we going to play today?” His daughter responds by opening her hands as wide as she can and says, “This many!”

And the Dad’s response breaks me every time.

He responds with an emphatic “Wow! That sounds doable!”

An entire day of seemingly worthless frivolity. Doable.

Imaginary friends and situations changing as frequently as a summer breeze. Doable.

Knowing full well time that could otherwise utilized in far more productive ways, succumbing the whims and whimsy of a 4 year old. Doable.

It’s a constant challenge to me because, frankly, childlike wonder and adventure sounds deeply impractical and all together…well…costly. But what if, in the process of all our learning, we have some unlearning to do? That we’ve regressed into survival rather than excelled into revelation.

Don’t misunderstand, “stay childlike” isn’t advocating immaturity and casting off responsibility. I understand there are childhood experiences that more closely resemble HBO critically acclaimed dramas than your classic Saturday morning cartoons.

No… it’s about putting yourself in a head space where things are actually possible again. Where new possibilities are enthralling more than debilitating, where joy and light can actually be found and not just at the expense of others.

It’s when “what if?”is met with a twinkle in the eye versus a heart palpitation.

Perhaps a bit heavy for an apparel company focusing on silly doodles and sayings, but I gotta tell you…if you lean into childlikeness, you may end discovering a smile you had once that’s gone dim, a posture that’s suddenly perked up, and maybe…

just maybe

…some hope again.

Further up & further in