Kid Before; Kid Again

Life’s quality is proportional to the degree we embrace our inner child

Remember when running errands with your parents felt like an adventure? Riding in the shopping cart, picking out your favorite snacks, and wandering through aisles that seemed full of endless possibilities.

Now, errands feel like a tedious activity—another thing to check off the list, another hour lost.

What changed?

Does growing up mean letting go of that sense of wonder, or did we simply forget how to see it?

Always so serious

My favorite artist, bar none, is Jon Bellion. His music captures the essence of God unlike any other human alive.

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Honestly, it’s a disgrace I didn’t mention him in my last post.

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Jon took a break from creating music for about six years after paying himself out of his Live Nation touring contract. Much to my surprise and delight, he released a new single in September of 2024.

The song, quite simply, rocks. It’s an audible story of renewal—of rebirth.

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Oh, my love, what happened to your light?
What happened to your light?
I am a kid again, I could do anything

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These three lines, repeated throughout the song, highlight its central theme: to be a kid again. To embrace the feelings we once had as children is a form of refreshment for those of us who take life all too seriously.

And if you know me personally, you know—I’m the biggest culprit of this.

My default mode? Always focused on making it to reservations right on time, mentally planning the day’s activities, and getting frustrated whenever things deviate from the plan. I operated this way for years without a second thought.

Enter Danielle

My girlfriend, Danielle, is one of the most intelligent, empathetic, humorous and stunningly beautiful people I have ever met. What I love most about her is her ability to pull me out of my serious headspace and remind me to enjoy the little pleasures in life—the ones I’d otherwise overlook.

Let me share an example.

This past fall, we visited a pumpkin farm in rural Iowa. As we strolled through, we stumbled upon a giant tube slide built on the side of a hill. The average age of those in line? About 6.5… until Dani dragged me up the steps.

We grabbed the available potato sacks to avoid getting burned by the plastic and raced down the slide.

I’ll admit, my internal dialogue was high-key judging the activity. But the second that ride ended (I smoked her in the race by the way) I wanted to go again.

And again.

And again we went.

This is just one of countless moments where Dani has encouraged me to be more childlike. And every time I oblige, I feel a joy that’s brighter than almost anything else in life.

Life is far too short

One of the most beautiful things about our species is having the privilege to be aware of our moment in time. It’s a gift.

As adults, it’s far too easy to get bogged down in the every day responsibilities that we have to attend to. Sure, responsibility builds character—but it shouldn’t come at the cost of joy.

This weekend, ask yourself two questions:

1. What activities did I absolutely love doing as a kid?

2. Why the hell did I stop doing them?

We all have childlike joy within us. Find the things that make yours shine.

Wishing you a very happy weekend,

Brady

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What was your favorite activity as a kid? Let’s talk about it!

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