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Joyful Optimists
By karen | August 14, 2007
I spent the majority of my Monday at a Children’s hospital. It really is a very cool place. The carpets are big blocks of colors and stars, the walls are covered with children’s artwork, the elevators have murals of balloons and zoo animals. There are toys to crawl on and play with and fun things to see such as life size train sets and giant dolls and teddy bears. It is a rather magical and inspired place.
That hospital truly is mystical and magical. It can spark your imagination in a million different ways, which is exactly as it should be, because many of the children there are very sick. Happy, joyful and fun things to see and do are exactly what the Doctor ordered, the perfect prescription.
It’s the kind of place that makes you feel good and grateful, good and grateful that they have this wonderful healing place of Love for the children who are sick; grateful for the magical and mystical time of childhood and yes, it also makes you feel grateful for healthy and strong children.
As I was there for quite some time, I was able to speak at length with a new friend/acquaintance who works in the rehabilitation department. She sees children of all ages and with all levels of problems, from birth defects or problems to accidents, and from mild difficulties to severe handicaps. She said something poignant and profound. It touched my heart and I wanted to share it here.
She said that none of the children ever feel sorry for themselves. Even if they walked before and an accident left them paralyzed or otherwise handicapped, they just seem to accept it and in general they are happy, joyful and optimistic. Of course, there are sometimes tears and anguish over treatments, and occasional bad behavior like all children, but they don’t have the other emotional issues. She did say that it changes when they become teenagers and at that age they often react with anger or depression but the littlest ones, are joyful optimists.
So that tells me that anger, depression and fighting against “what is” is a learned response. It doesn’t come preprogrammed in our psyches from birth. We learn it from our parents, teachers and life in general.
Babies come into the world preprogrammed to experience Joy and Happiness, regardless of what life gives them.
We all came into the world the same way, from the same energy. It is our true nature to experience Joy.
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Topics: Living the Power, Real Life, Reflections |
August 14th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Great post. I really enjoyed it.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:30 am
So true and when you’re feeling down and out the best thing you can do is get out!
Hugs,
Holly
August 14th, 2007 at 10:54 am
What a beautiful post! This is a wonderful reminder that our children don’t always learn the best or most positive of what a parent has to offer… they absorb it all.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:21 am
As James Arthur Ray says, “We are born into greatness, and programmed into mediocrity”.
Awesome post, Karen, and a point well worth internalizing. Thanks!
August 14th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Thanks Jenny! I appreciate you stopping by and your comment!
August 14th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Yes, Holly I agree. The best thing you can do is to get out and do some living besides feeling down!
Thanks for stopping by1
August 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Mary,
they do absorb everything and as parents we probably need to work on our own joy and connections!
August 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Aaron,
Great quote from James Arthur Ray! So True!!
August 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Hi Karen - the power of the human spirit to transcend adversity is truly amazing. Even more amazing when it is spontaneous like it is in kids.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
So true! That spontanaiety is our true spirit shining forth!
thanks for the comment!
August 15th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I enjoyed this post, too, Karen. And I agree about kids. I used to be a midwife. Babies born at home come into the world peaceful. Birth does NOT have to be traumatic. Kids are happy and I love that they teach us how to be that way.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Kids are just naturally joyful! Living with three, I know they can be screaming one minute and loving each other the next!
thanks for your comment!
August 16th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I was in a children’s hospitalwith an AVM from the age of 13-14… I remember hard times, but I also remember a lot of fun. The experience of going to death and back has kind of left me with a joyful optimism in LIFE! I can’t say it always fits in every situation, but it does help me cope!!! So my blog usually celebrates something JOYful….. http://crazydaisy-tifscorner.blogspot.com/
August 16th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Wow, Tiffany!
Love that story! I’m looking forward to taking a peek at your blog!
Thanks for stopping by!
August 17th, 2007 at 8:49 am
[...] Karen Lynch unveils the joyful, optimistic nature in all of us before we’re jaded by life, posted at Live the Power. [...]
August 18th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
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