To Be Brave Like a Kid Again

Why is it, as we get older, our bravery skills diminish?  Trying something new at the ripe old age of 33 strikes fear in me like no other.  I miss the days when a double dare at the monkey bars would result in a triumphant face plant in the sand and I would stand up and say "see, I tried it".  Or swinging as high as the top bar, to jump out and only to land perfectly on your feet.  Those were the days.  It seems like lately, the bravery concept is lost in the monotony of everyday life.  Why is that?

Today, with the help of one little girl, I figured it out.  Adults do not like to learn anything new and we lose trust in each other.  Take Syd for example, today is her seventh birthday and her first ever tractor pull.  She can't even reach the floor of the tractor and yet she has no fear.  When I asked her why she felt so confident.  She told me it was because she practiced a lot and she had dad to help her.

Syd did a great job today.  Even though she didn't take first, she walked away with the understanding that she was successful simply because she tried.

As we get older, we need to be reminded every once in awhile that it is ok to fail, as long as you try.  That being brave involves others by your side.  And that learning something new means practice and that no matter how old we are, we still have much to learn!