Lessons on Life from a 3 year old.from his first hiking adventure

by Therese Miu on 27/03/10 at 10:04 am

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Children need to be encouraged to dream, play, and be creative. Guidance is necessary for them to discover their gifts and learn to express their utmost potential.

When was the last time you gazed at the clouds, whispered sweet thoughts to the wind, connected with sunflowers, and studied rocks?

Please watch a short short video about my HIKING experience with my 3 yr old. It was PURE BLISS!

One of the best ways to experience life to its fullest is watching it through a child’s eye.

My intention, as a parent, is to provide my son with different experiences. To give him experiences that can help him grow and learn in the most positive way. This past week I went hiking with him and his dad, Uncle Mike, and Auntie Lina. And here are the lessons I picked up from hiking with my 3 year old.

I hope this post inspires you to live fully, appreciate nature, and enjoy the people close to you in your life.

What I learned from my 3 yr old

1.) To have appetite for life’s adventure, magic, and imagination

Jeroen’s awareness is fresh. Children are flexible in their thinking. They are not dominated by ego. So hanging out with him reminds me of the importance of vitality and bringing life to everything. I love this quote by Wayne Dyer,

“There’s always something beautiful to be experienced where ever you are. Right now, look around you and select beauty as your focus”

One of our gifts in this life as I was told is that no one can ever take away our imagination. Use it, Nurture it and watch as your whole life unfolds to limitless beauty.

2.) To be fully present in the moment

“The Joy is in the journey and the journey is in the joy” John C. Maxwell

Put your heart and attention to every moment. Enjoy LIFE and cherish every little thing from the sky to a beetle to the trees. Rid of yourself of worry, doubt, and fear. Find ways to put positivity in your life and attract thoughts that serve you in positive way.

3.) Play & Humor – Have a sense of lightness

As adults we have to give ourselves permission to play and not take things too seriously. We have to allow ourselves to step back from our monotonous life and HAVE FUN. Smile… Hug a friend. Laugh… Get rid of your frowns, whining, complaining, & negativity. I have learned that,

“Play has consistently been found to reduce stress, increase energy levels, brighten people’s out look, increase optimism and foster creativity.”

4.) Appreciation for nature — Jeroen has a sense of wonderment for nature. He would listen to the water stream and people laughing. He can stare at a rock for a looonnnnggg… loooonnnggg time.

5.) Be a free spirit. It is important to let your mind roam freely and appreciate every moment. When your mind is clear, you are then open to every POSSIBILITIES. I have heard, “What’s possible is anything. What’s possible is everything. What’s possible is now. What’s possible is possible for you. Open yourself to what’s possible. Live the best of the infinite possibilities.”

6.) Patience – My son would take multiple breaks which I am not used to. He has the wisdom to pace himself. I think one thing we must learn to master is the art of being patient. I want to give you a quick example, when was the last time you said to yourself “Can I please find the right partner already? Or When is it time for me to be financially free?” Everything in life worth taking is a RISK. And one thing we must understand that everything worth taking in our path requires unwavering patience. I have heard that “infinite patience produces immediate results.”

7.) Being Peaceful- When we reached the top Jeroen looked out into the horizon and was admiring the beauty. I have come to cherish being alone at times. I truly make a concerted effort to step back from the noise and bring balance in my every being. I have found that self-reflection is crucial in your everyday existence. One thing you can do is reflect about your day.

And ask yourself

What did I learn about myself today?
What did I accomplish?
What can I do more of?
What can I do less of?
What can I do in every moment to bring the greatest gift in my life and those around me?

On a recap…..What I learned from him mostly is time is non-existent. I learned to let go and flow with every moment rather than controlling everything I do.

So MY advice is to:

Allow yourself to fall deeply in each moment with appreciation, wonderment, and joy.

How about you? What have you learned about yourself when you’re surrounded by nature? What have your children taught you? What activity brings you the most satisfaction?

When was the last time you took the time to play?

And… Here are some of my favorite quotes.

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.”– Hodding Carter

“There are many trails up the mountain, but in time they all reach the top” – Anya Seaton

A three-year-old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. Bill Vaughan

For only as we ourselves, as adults, actually move and have our being in the state of love, can we be appropriate models and guides for our children. What we are teaches the child far more than what we say, so we must be what we want our children to become.– Joseph Chilton Pearce

Here are some pictures of the hike with his dad Jeff Miu