The Good Ol’ Days

How students find childlike happiness in their adult lives.
By: Livi Carda

A video may have come across your social media feed, the sound of a mourning dove coo over a slideshow of toys, food and TV shows that shaped the 2000s childhood. Forgotten trinkets and memories of a time that felt easier come flooding back into your brain after being stored away for so long. There is a wave of sadness with the realization that you will never be that age again. 

As children, we can’t wait for the day we trade the plastic car keys for real ones. Now at the age we once coveted, we sometimes yearn for the simplicity of our youth, running through the sprinkler and hanging out with neighbor kids until the sun goes down.

With the stress of school, internships and figuring out what you want to do with your life after graduation, being reminded of our childhood memories sometimes brings mourning as you feel that it slipped away too quickly. 

As young adults, we may catch ourselves during activities that offer a small glimpse of the joy and happiness we once felt as a child like lying in a grassy field on a sunny day or watching a favorite old movie. Identifying those euphoric activities may be more important for your well-being than you think. 

Psychologist Marny Saunier promotes the mental benefits of playing at all ages, “Not only has [play] been linked to overall well-being and life satisfaction, the clinical research supports play for all ages,” Saunier said. “Referencing that what we do with and through play exponentially and significantly increases the impact of learning.” 

Although kids who grew up in the 2000s may have had similar interests in TV shows, toys and snacks that are no longer made, that doesn’t mean our experiences were all the same. Finding different ways to “play” in our adult lives is important, especially when we carry the pressures of our lives so heavily as adults. 

Bryn Vanmansum a senior at Western Washington University, finds joy in moving her body and letting go of the stress through movement in whatever way that comes. “I frolic,” she said. “I move my body in weird ways because it’s fun and feels good even if it looks silly.”.

“It helps to focus on the little things. We used to be so amazed by things that now, we don’t even take note of,” she said. 

Juno Bonnell-Jones is a senior at Western.  She tries to incorporate activities she enjoyed as a child into her adult life, and said she misses the happiness and wonder we experienced in our childhood. 

“I love looking for little critters or bugs under rocks. That’s something I did all the time as a kid and it brings me a sense of joy for discovering small and beautiful things,” she said. 

“I typically go to the beach or out on the interurban,” Bonnel-Jones continued. “Somewhere in nature, that isn’t too busy. I see a lot of crabs and if I’m looking elsewhere I find worms and spiders. If I’m lucky I’ll see a garter snake or a little shrew.”

It is important to acknowledge that individuals may need professional help in adulthood to help heal their inner child. According to Charlie Health, a virtual Intensive Outpatient Program offering therapy for young people dealing with complex mental health issues, “Even though you may not be consciously aware of the pain your inner child is carrying, it may be impacting your mental health and relationships.” 

Senior Zach Sherrer shared that moving his body and constructing stories about nature brings him childlike happiness. However, he briefly touched on how important it is to acknowledge all the growth and wisdom he has gained through his 20 years of life and how his younger self would be proud.

“I don’t know if this brings me childlike happiness, but I appreciate thinking about how I’ve developed over time and how I structure time to connect with myself now. I find myself purposefully acknowledging how far I’ve come and how my lived experience now is what I dreamed about as a kiddo,” he said.  

Next time you feel overwhelmed by being an adult and all the baggage that comes with life,  take the time to go on the swings, frolic through a field or seek critters under a rock. Take a moment to do whatever you want to do to feel the joy you once felt as a child.