When do we change?

Just the other day, I was chatting with a friend and she told me about something that happened to her young daughter at school…

Her 7-year-old came home with a drawing she had colored and my friend noticed that on every portion of the picture, there were instructions on the “correct” colors to use. 

Her daughter had wanted to color the trees purple —and started to do just that— but had been told the trees needed to be green, so that’s how she completed it.

It got me and my friend wondering: when do we change? when do we let the playfulness and whimsy go?

Is there one crystallizing moment or is it a constant, subtle messaging we get that convinces us to conform? Maybe a combination of both? 

Somehow, most of us decide that we’re not enough —or maybe too much— and dim our light. We’re told to stay inside the lines, to not explore our true selves because trying to fit in is what keeps us safe. 

And then we hit our 40s and 50s and have this insane fear that we haven’t “achieved” the “right” things (whatever that is!) when the truth is, we’re more complete than ever.

I don’t know about you, but I love that at this point in life I have a treasure trove of experience. I love feeling more comfortable with myself. Less attached to ego. More open. Who I am feels…sturdy.

So I say, let’s come full circle. Let’s embrace our middle season of life as a time to bring back our childlike openness.

Because whenever it was that we decided to change who we are, it’s never too late to reclaim ourselves. Let’s turn our light on full blast. Bring back color. 

Let’s fill the world with purple trees.

Celebrating 60 with client, Sallie.