Indulging Your Inner Child

July 8th, 2008           Email this article to a friend Email this article to a friend

Child
Photo by Hamed Masoumi

In a post about gratitude and independence, Akemi Gaines talks about a few things, including a conversation she had with her inner child that was too adorable not to link to. Akemi and her inner child were in a grocery store after receiving $400 of dream money. In part, their conversation went like this:

Her inner child: Hey, I want that big flat of strawberries!
Her adult self: Amm . . . this dream money is for something nice, not about getting groceries.
Her inner child: But I want to eat all those strawberries! Lots and lots of them. I don’t want dinner, I want to eat all the berries.
Her adult self: Well . . .
Her inner child: You only get me that small tub from time to time. I want lots of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries . . .
Her adult self: You are right. . . well, maybe we can split the $400 and get some berries . . .

And Jerry Seinfeld’s inner child showed itself to be alive and well when he said this:

But I have to say I enjoy adulthood. I enjoy the fact that now, if I want a cookie, I have a cookie. Okay? I have three cookies or four cookies or eleven cookies if I want. What was the big deal with the cookies? “Not before dinner.” “Not too many.” “You’ve had enough.” “Not now.” Well, now I’m a grown-up, give me the cookies! Many times I will intentionally ruin my entire appetite. Beyond recognition. Then I call my mother up right after it to tell her. “Hello Mom? I just ruined my entire appetite…cookies.”

When was the last time you indulged your inner child? Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to ruin your appetite, run in the halls, color outside the lines, or something of that sort. Then tell us what you did!

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19 Responses to “Indulging Your Inner Child”

  1. Akemi - Yes to Me Says:

    Oh, thank you. I’m sure my inner child is proud to be on your blog.
    She likes attention, you know. And how cute that kid in the photo!

    Akemi – Yes to Mes last blog post..Comparing America and Japan, Part 2

  2. Barbara Swafford Says:

    Hi Hunter,

    O.K. Alright, I’ll go in the kitchen and cut me a piece of brownie…but it will be a small piece. We’ll compromise. :)

    Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Your Today Is My Tomorrow

  3. XiongShui Says:

    O, yes, I also love my inner child and gave him a playground at myself. From there comes always a gladsome laughter if I should be serious. And than, I make the environs people worried with a small grin at my face… ;-)

    XiongShuis last blog post..Ist das des Handelsblattes würdig?

  4. XiongShui Says:

    Hunter, excuse me, for asking this O.T.- Question: can you tell how to do that “last blog post” at the comment function? Thanks a lot. (You may delete this entry, after reading)

    XiongShuis last blog post..Ist das des Handelsblattes würdig?

  5. Cath Lawson Says:

    Hi Hunter – I loved Akemi’s post – I’m glad she got the berries. I’m quite rebellious so I indulge my inner child a lot – especially when it comes splashing in puddles – who cares if I get my clothes dirty? And I cycle without a helmet a lot (ok – it is illegal now, but it’s not like I haven’t done it a million times before).

  6. Marelisa Says:

    Hi Hunter: I’m actually quite good at indulging my inner child (she’s an only child, seeing as how I don’t have children, so she gets pampered a lot). Yesterday I walked to the store under a slight drizzle. I knew it was raining, but I felt like getting a little bit wet instead of driving to the store or carrying an umbrella.

  7. Sunil Pathak Says:

    Well i treat child in my self with action and violence gaming round every night
    which i was never allowed in my childhood but i wish i had that liberty in my childhood rather then now

    Sunil Pathaks last blog post..Practical Guide For Successful Blog

  8. Avani-Mehta Says:

    I treat my inner child by giving in to random fun ideas that it generates – at that moment. Be it getting drenched in rain, tickling my hubby to death, playing board games, singing at top of my voice with my favourite song, being silly at times.

  9. Janice Cartier Says:

    I’ve been finger painting this afternoon. And I just danced in the kitchen while everyone is gone.

    Janice Cartiers last blog post..The Paint, The Perfume, and Me

  10. Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map Says:

    My inner child craves for chocolate for comfort. It’s hard to ignore this child sometimes. Her voice can get loud and demanding!

    Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Maps last blog post..How To Calm Down From Unresolved Anger Quickly

  11. Hunter Nuttall Says:

    @ Akemi, well, your inner child deserves some attention. Maybe we’ll see her do a guest post on your blog at some point!

    @ Barbara, that’s a perfectly fine compromise. The first couple of bites are the best anyway, so you’re just being sensible about indulging.

    @ XiongShui, wow, your inner child is very lucky to have you as a parent! The “last blog post” thing is done by the wonderful CommentLuv plugin, found here: http://www.fiddyp.co.uk/commentluv-wordpress-plugin/

    @ Cath, splashing in puddles? That’s kind of funny. I take it you’re wearing appropriate shoes or boots when you do that. That’s interesting that helmets are required by law…I don’t know of any laws we have here about wearing helmets when biking, and for motorcycles, the law varies by state from “always required” to “never required,” with a few variations in between.

    @ Marelisa, this ties in well to your latest post. I guess you were trying to balance your water energy!

    @ Sunil, I used to really like games…now I don’t play as much as I should.

    @ Avani, that’s great! Living in the moment is something that’s hard for a lot of people, but I guess you have it mastered!

    @ Janice, finger painting–that’s a good one! Did you dance only because everyone was gone, or would you have done it anyway?

    @ Evelyn, I like chocolate too. Good thing it counts as a vegetable!

  12. Peter | Pick The Brain Says:

    I can’t remember the last time I indulged my inner child. Sad, eh? Looks like I need to accept your mission…..

    Peter | Pick The Brains last blog post..Using Creativity to Carve Out Your Niche in Life

  13. Hunter Nuttall Says:

    @ Peter, thanks for rising to the challenge! Please come back and give us an update when you’re done!

  14. XiongShui Says:

    Thanks a lot, Hunter, for both: the compliment and the link. Unfortunately “commentluv” dosn’t work at time on my blog. I’ll see to fix it.

    Two hours ago there was a litle, round about five years old indian girl at the tram- and busstation, sucking at a ticket. I told him, ticket don’t taste so good as a cookie and give him ones. Mam said: “say thank you”, girl said: “thank you”. Eating that cookie she said: “Ice”. I said: “No, cookie, but it tasts at ice, it’s a vanilla- one”. “Ice”, said the girl and started to coquet with me. Bus is coming, Mam said: “Come on, the bus is coming.” Girl walked two steps, turns around, to wave with both arms and give me a brightly laughting. My inner Child was laughting too.

    XiongShuis last blog post..Janwillem Van de Wetering ist gestorben

  15. Akemi - Yes to Me Says:

    A great resource to nurture the inner child: Escape Adulthood. I interviewed Kim and Jason for my interview series before. Fascinating couple. I subscribe to their blog to get daily cartoon!

  16. Akemi - Yes to Me Says:

    ^ see above. This is a very bad example of putting in link, even though my intention was good. For those of you who may be wondering what the heck I did — I forgot to close it with

    Life is tough . . . failure gets posted on the internet instantly. . . I’m going home to comfort my inner child.

  17. vered Says:

    I indulge my inner child almost every single day. And I am proud of it. :) Most commonly, I indulge it by daydreaming/ wasting time (which I don’t consider as waste at all) and by enjoying sweets – I have something sweet after dinner almost every day.

    vereds last blog post..Google Search Terms: The Funny, The Sad, And The CREEPY

  18. Hunter Nuttall Says:

    @ Vered, I don’t consider daydreaming a waste at all either. I guess it could be if you never actually did anything, but most people could probably stand to do a little more daydreaming.

  19. Gratitude Friday, Week 7, Gratitude From Akemi's Inner Child | Yes to Me Says:

    [...] told me funny stories of Japan and said nice things about me, so I know he is a good person. I wish Akemi spends more time reading his [...]

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