Isn’t it funny how inspiration can strike you in the funniest of ways? It can literally come from anywhere at any time. Some places might seem to make sense to us. You might plan on being inspired by someone you view as successful. Someone with a thriving business. Maybe a mentor of some kind. Someone who appears to have their life together.
The funny thing is, sometimes the greatest source of inspiration can be the one you least expect. Today I was sitting back and watching my kids as they were playing together……peacefully. It was a beautiful minute and a half.
The moment was calm and serene and it allowed me to drift off into deep thought. I started reflecting a little bit about where I’m at in my life. Can you believe that my trail of thought could actually get that far? Truly deep thinking took place without being interrupted by someone screaming or an injury occurring. Crazy, I know.
Alright, back to my deep thinking
As I sat there and watched my boys, I started to really zero in on my two-year-old. I started to think about him. Who I feel he is. What I love about him. What drives me crazy.
All of a sudden a thought popped into my head. I wonder what it would be like if I was a little more like him. Boy number two in our house is known as the wild child of the family. He’s a little on the loud side. Definitely known as being the one to challenge those around him. He has about one speed and it is full throttle. He’s feisty and fiery. All that being said, he is also loving and very protective of those he cares for.
So at this point I have about 40 seconds left in my uninterrupted think time. It was then that I really started to think about all of the things I could learn from him and apply to myself. Things that come so naturally to him. Characteristics and actions that I could build on or utilize. Things that just might make me a more successful and fulfilled person.
Jotting it down
Now we are at about 20 seconds left before chaos ensued. My subconscious must have been able to feel what was coming. Suddenly it was like my brain was in this rapid-fire mode. Flying through all of those lessons to be learned as quickly as possible. Trying to make sure that I could soak them in before it was too late and the moment had passed.
I started to jot down notes to myself. They weren’t pretty, but I caught the main idea. So here you go. A list of 10 important life lessons that I learned from my wild-child two-year-old son.
10 Important Life Lessons From a Two-Year-Old
Lesson 1: All things are possible.
My two-year-old definitely believes that anything he would like to have happened can indeed happen. He doesn’t shut down an idea the minute he thinks of it. He pictures it happening and that belief doesn’t shake, it does not waiver. It’s steadfast. I can try to pull him off of the idea, whatever it might be. I can tell him all of the reasons why it won’t work or can’t happen. Doesn’t matter. He will stand firmly.
Lesson 2: There’s a solution to almost any problem.
If there is a roadblock, a two-year-old will most definitely find a way around it. They are innovative and creative in their problem-solving methods. Asked mom and it didn’t work, no problem. A better solution, just ask dad. Mom said no candy from the top shelf in the pantry, no problem. The solution is to drag a step-stool halfway across the house climb up partway and grab it themselves. They never let a problem keep them stuck.
Lesson 3: Be confident in yourself.
Last summer I remember being at swimming lessons for my oldest son. The two-year-old sat back reluctantly only watching instead of participating as well. It was time for the oldest to go off of the high dive and the two of us walked closer to get a better look. As we were walking he looked at me and said, “I can do that too. I want to go off that.” It both terrified me and made me a little proud at the same time. He was full of confidence. Ready to take on anything. He saw it done and never questioned whether or not he was good enough, strong enough, smart enough or whatever else. He just believed.
Lesson 4: Be free and be yourself.
No fear of judgment. No feelings of inadequacy. If they like something, they won’t hide that. If they want to wear something, you best believe they are wearing it. It doesn’t matter if it is “cool” or not. They just go for it. Can you imagine what that must feel like? Not ever feeling like you have to impress anyone. Just being 100% authentic you. All. The. Time.
Lesson 5: Find joy all around you.
A two-year-old has so many treasures. So many little things that bring them joy and can’t be thrown away. A rock they found in the driveway. A sticker they have used and peeled off of something for the third time. Whatever it might be, it is usually something simple. Not the big flashy things, but something small. Do you know how a lot of the time when they get a gift, they spend more time playing with the paper or the box? They find joy in the little things that most of us tend to overlook. And guess what? They’re so happy because of it.
Lesson 6: Take risks.
I looked up from the table the other day to see my son flipping himself over the back of the couch and sliding down. Fearless. Not really worried about getting hurt or in trouble. He had a goal; he knew what he wanted to do. So, he went for it. Obviously, I was less than thrilled about it at that moment. I will also probably have grey hair very soon because of moments like these. But yet again, I thought it must feel good to have that kind of reckless abandon at times. To just jump without the fear of falling.
Lesson 7: Ignore the noise.
We live in a world that is filled with opinions. We get messages from the media, from our families, from all around us on who we should be. What we should do. At times it can be hard to ignore. However, not if you are a toddler. They can tune out whatever is coming at them if they are fixated on something important to them. How many times have you said something along the lines of “no, no, no!” or “please stop doing that!” as your toddler empties out a box of crackers on the kitchen floor? This is an almost daily occurrence in our house. I can be running at him to stop a catastrophe and saying his name and he will not bat an eye. Complete focus. Not phased at all by someone telling him that he can’t or shouldn’t.
Lesson 8: Tomorrow’s a new day.
I love the fact that a two-year-old can have a day that is just so off the wall, totally crazy, filled with intense emotions, and wake up the next day as nothing happened. They let it go. There’s no sitting and stewing and fretting about their missteps. They just start fresh. A new day that can take any course. I don’t know about you, but I find myself at times ruminating over something I did or said. I can hang on to that thought forever. Not a two-year-old. They move on and I think I should too.
Lesson 9: A sense of humor is a powerful thing.
Have you ever been in the middle of disciplining a toddler when out of now where they say or do something that cracks you up? My son is lucky to have the gift of perfect timing when it comes to comic relief. It has bailed him out of so many intense situations. I can be so angry or annoyed and he will have something humorous to say that can change the mood of the whole situation. I need to find the funny when things are tense for me. What a difference that can make.
Lesson 10: You are enough.
It can be easy to feel inadequate in different areas of our lives. To question our abilities. To nitpick every little aspect of ourselves and to be pretty unforgiving. Do you know who does not ever think those things about you? A two-year-old. I know he is never thinking that he wishes I had fewer wrinkles or that I had better hair. He doesn’t think that I need to be making more money or losing more weight. Not at all. He just loves me. He loves that I can play with him. That we can laugh together. That every now and then I give him something that tastes “der-ricious” in his words. He sees me as more than enough. Maybe I can learn to see myself more through the eyes of a two-year-old. Maybe they see a whole lot more than what we give them credit for.
Lessons Learned
I guess you could say that although it might seem unlikely, a two-year-old is a great person to look to if you are in need of inspiration. Just hang back for a second and watch how they operate. Then think about yourself for a minute. What would your life be like if you lived just a little bit more like them? Maybe like the person that you used to be before the world got in the way.
Let me know below what you think you might change and thanks for reading!
