Connecting with your child

Nurture The Seeds - Horace and the Hugging Trees evolution

We are all born with the innate ability to tap into our imagination at any given moment.  In infancy and early childhood, the mind knows no limits and can take us to the Universe and beyond. However, as we grow older the academically based education system does not encourage such fancy and some of us persuade ourselves that this God-given gift simply does not exist. My 93-year-old father is a prime example of the inner child prevailing. He still pulls the best faces, sings, colours in, dances holding on to his wheelie walker, and is well known for his spontaneous outbursts of Opera, no matter where the location.  So don’t despair, it is still there. We just need to exercise that creative muscle again. Below are some strategies to assist:

Live in the moment

Go hug a tree

Make a list of the things that made you happy as a child and then pick one to do

Keep your mind open and curious

Connect with nature

Stand in front of the mirror and pull faces

Don’t take yourself too seriously

Don’t be afraid to fail

Go to a park and sit on a swing

Whistle, sing, hum

Be spontaneous

Do some colouring in

Daggy dance in the lounge room  to your favourite song

In retrospect, I now realise that when writing Horace and the Hugging Trees, I was actually writing my story and reliving my childhood dreams. The ability to transform imagery into words is a very powerful tool It might mean taking some risks—like when you were younger—and living a life less encumbered by conventions and expectations, while being more receptive and curious. 

So remember, stay young at heart and your writing journey will benefit immeasurably.