- What would your inner-child be doing right now?
- What advice would your inner-child give you?
- What dream is your inner-child holding onto?
- What secret is your inner-child keeping for you?
When I think back to my childhood I remember how active, creative, and playful I was. Socially, I was friends with everyone. I didn't have a clique. I was a super-talkative, happy kid, with a huge smile that thrived around people and kinda fit in everywhere. I was equally excited to play with the kids into MadLibs, Monopoly, and Jax as I was with the kids playing kickball, climbing trees, or riding bikes around the neighborhood. I also loved playing beauty shop; curling or french braiding my friend's hair and meticulously putting on makeup to pose for "Seventeen" or "Young Miss" magazine. I was always a performer. If I wasn't standing in front of the bathroom mirror freestyling random lyrics with a towel on my head (think Diana Ross hair), I was in the kitchen creating my own cooking shows. My specialty was english muffin pizzas with pepperoni made in the toaster oven. Carpool rides from ballet lessons were spent doing commercials for my ballet box bag featuring that special little compartment designed specifically for my ballet slippers. And besides being a performer, I was a little entrepreneur. I remember baking chocolate chip cookies and selling them 4/$1 on UMass campus. I also made my own jewelry which I sold at the end of my driveway.
A big part of becoming an Indie Girl is re-introducing yourself to your inner-child; that playful little girl with an insatiable curiosity, a wild imagination, uncensored creativity and a fearless sense of adventure. That child silenced by the responsibilities of adulthood, shaped by society’s expectations, and jaded by painful life experiences like divorce, heartbreak, or single-itis. So much of our energy is spent “grinding” that we forget what it’s like to have a little spontaneous fun that’s not tainted with guilt or anxiety. Life becomes a cerebral event rather than a multi-sensory journey full of pleasure.
But recovering your inner-child isn't just about recreating recess in your adult life. It's also about emotional honesty and uninhibited self-expression; knowing that your thoughts, ideas and opinions deserve to be heard. It’s about honest communication and a genuine desire for authentic connections. It's to live without judgement and being willing to see people for their character rather than through the lens of labels.
When I reflect on my childhood, it's the very things that excited me then that make me come alive now. Maybe not in the literal sense. But I still thrive on being active, creative, and playful. And I still have that same entrepreneurial spirit. And even though I value my alone time so much more now, I'm still a communicator that loves being part of a dynamic and diverse community. When I don't prioritize those things -- the needs of my inner-child, my adult self rebels or throws a tantrum. Because life simply doesn't feel fair.
Indie Girl Diary: writing prompt
My inner-child wants me to __________.
Indie Girl-Talk: let's chat!
What were you like as a child? What were your hobbies, interests & dreams? Have they changed or stayed the same?
