Observing children has provided me with a lot of insight into a huge variety of things… usually having to do with how I approach life. Perhaps it would be more honest to say they reveal to me… habits I’ve let take over my life that disconnect me from the adventure that life is designed to be.

Today I’m going to share with you a few suggestions I know kids would make (and if they’re old enough to articulate it they may have shared these out loud) that are worthy of our attention and could serve us in getting out of a rut we may have become lost in.

1. Try on a Screaming Green sweater if everything in your closet is black or a black sweater if everything you own is Screaming Green.

Bit of trivia here… but Screaming Green is the least used color in a Crayola Fifty box of crayons… except of course by kids I happen to know. And the point is… just because you think something shouldn’t be worn… by you… you really won’t know until you’re willing to stretch your comfort zone.  There really may be a lot of fun wearing those god-awful combinations kids, left to their own devices, will wear. Go wild… give it shot!

2. Taste a new food – even one you swear you won’t like.

How many times have we seen kids wrinkle up their noses at an unfamiliar food. It may be the sheer unfamiliarity, or a strong smell, or a strange texture… but whatever it is they’re not willing to get past it long enough to see if they might like the taste after all. How willing are you? I dare ya to try something new!

3. Even if you don’t need the help, let others help you.

Sometimes in my struggle to prove my independence I know I have cut off my nose to spite my face. Stay with me here and let me explain. When you’re doing fulltime childcare, during the bulk of the year your ‘big kids’ are the 3.5 – 5 year olds. And those kids are independent, capable and competent and can be a big help. The thing is, many, if not most of them, are the ‘baby’ in their own family so when Mom or Dad come to pick them up I suddenly see them become virtually unrecognizable. Suddenly they don’t know how to tie a shoe, put on a coat, pick up toys… heck, some days they can’t even walk to the car! But one day it dawned on me… geez, they are Masters at letting others help even when they don’t need it. Why on earth did I ever lose sight of that one? It’s really okay (at least once in a while) to let yourself be carried… so really, let others help.

4. Read a new genre of book or listen to a different style of music this year.

Kids are amazingly open to new books and music. They’re willing to explore it all and see how they feel. Because of watching them expand, I realized I could move beyond my mysteries and Indigo Girls and experience a whole new world of fact, fiction and marvelous music. This actually wasn’t a big stretch for me as I’ve always like variety in books and music… what was a big stretch though, was seeking even more variety than what I had. So no matter where you’re at… go for something new and different. (By the way, movie soundtracks are frequently a great way to expose yourself to a variety of music and musical styles.)

5. Do something dramatically different with your makeup. Perhaps borrow a bold color palate from your favorite teenager.

Kids have a comfort zone… it just doesn’t encompass as broad a path as the one we’ve created for ourselves over time. One of the things that make facepaints and ‘dress up’ so popular is the opportunity to thrill yourself by experiencing yourself in a new way. Get past your ‘shy’ and give something new a try.

6. Let someone else win the argument, even when you know you’re absolutely right

This powerful lesson has been learned from both the situations where I’ve watched kids literally duke it out, unwilling to concede their point and those equally numbered times where an indifferent shrug ends it all. More often than not, the real ‘win’ is in letting the disagreement go.

7. Offer other people some help even when you know they don’t need it.

A variation of #3 that can provide a very enlightening perspective. Kids have really taught me just how much fun it can all  be when the ‘willing to help’ and the ‘willing to be helped’ is all in balance – truly adding to the fun.

8. Pick a subject a week and learn one new thing a day about it. If you’re not interested after a week let it go.

I think it’s wonderful that so many parents want to expose their children to a variety of experiences. I don’t think it’s so wonderful when those parents commit their children to something long term before they learn if, at this time,  the child is genuinely interested.  That’s fodder for another post at a later time but I’ll bet if we branch out and explore one new subject a week, for a whole week ourselves, we’ll have a different idea about exploring and experiencing new things.

9. Forget the flannels and slip into silk

It’s all about the senses and a simple change up like this can bring some unexpected delight your way. The 3 year old granddaughter has a wonderful range of delicious feeling sleepwear and she revels in it all. Reminds me that I’m definitely in a rut in this area… and this year, I vow to change it up frequently!

10. You know you want to do it… so go ahead and play. Dye your hair, red, brown, blonde or black.

Go wild, give it a try. It’s not like we’re talking something permanent like piercings or tattoos (yet! ;-)) Be bold and declare your willingness to discover if blondes really do have more fun… or if being a redhead lets your ‘sassy’ out!

11. Turn off your Blackberry at least 15 minutes each day and take a few deep breaths while focusing on things you appreciate and love.

Imagine, daydream, pretend. Kids are tuned in, tapped in and turned on to what they’re doing because they know how to pretend, imagine and daydream. It really is one of those things that come quite natural to the human being. Yet somewhere along the line it seems we let that get rooted out of us mistakenly thinking that it’s a waste of time. Yet my time with children reminds me it’s one of the most powerful ways ever to refuel our energy levels and get ourselves aligned with all the good looking to come our way. Perhaps this resolution should be #1!!!

Let me know any you would add… I’d love to hear about it!