Just A Kid At Heart

The other day a family member asked me how old I was turning this year ... I answered, then he gave me his reply back, "you're getting old man" ... My response, "naw, you're only as old as you feel" ... Quite honestly I don't feel a day over 21 ... my youthful mindset is perhaps why I'm at most times laid back and maybe also the reason why all of my little cousins, neices and nephews gravitate towards me ... one of my older cousins asked me once, "why do they like YOU so much?" ... my answer was simple "kids recognize the pure of heart", LMFAO ... but seriously though, I think they can identify with my child-like nature some times ... I don't "baby talk" any of them, I talk to them like I would anyone else ... on top of that, I can still think like a kid, so I know what would entertain and interest them and what they would find funny ... Just to give you an example of child-like nature, if I was given a choice: night club or Canada's Wonderland ... I'd choose Wonderland in a heartbeat ... The other day I was thinking, man, I feel like going to Disney World ... no, not the smaller Disneyland in Anaheim, California, but Disney World in Orlando, Florida ... I haven't been there since I was in kindergarden, I'm sure a lot's changed since then, and I'm sure the prices are up 200% of the 80's fees as well ... One of the few memories I have of that trip is walking into one of the gift shops at Disney World and seeing one of those Lion-O Thundercats swords ... now that's something I would love to have right now, I'd walk around downtown with that on my hip, then occasionally stopping to wave it, "Thunder!, Thunder!, Thunder!, Thundercats!, Hooooo!", LOL ... Back to Disney World, if I got the chance to go, one of the first things I'd do is run up to Winnie the Pooh, get a pic, I wouldn't care about bein' embarrassed ... Just to give you all an example, in 2006 during one of my annual New York City trips, I walked into Toys R Us in Times Square ... I'm sure you've all seen the store's mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe, well the character (guy dressed up in the suit) was there that day posing for pictures with the kids ... there was a Toys R Us employee beside him saying, "hey kids, who wants to have their photo taken with Geoffrey?" ... So I walk up, "what up Geoffrey?", give him a shake-hug, then walk off nonchalantly, this father with his two kids was laughing his a** off ... Yes J has some Carlton (from Fresh Prince) in him, ie. the "Dougie" episode, LOL ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfvuFN2vfWY
LMFAO, well maybe not as fruity as Carlton ... Anyhow, I don't know how many people around my age would act like I do on occasion ... I think that's the problem with most people when they get older, they take things too damn seriously ... I recognize that as a flaw of mine that can work against me, but I also think it's one of my greatest strengths ... I just laugh my a** off when I hear people stress about work, school or life in general (ex. relationships) ... The world would be a much nicer and less stressful place if people weren't so serious all the time ... but if that was the case psychologists and psychiatrists would be out of work ... It's J's theory that stress is merely an internal state, something which everyone has full control over ... Sure there are external factors, but it's about how you deal with them ... Think back to when you were a kid, how much stress was there really in your life? ... I'm guessing next to nothing ... So maybe being a kid at heart or in a child-like state of mind, may not be so bad ...

One,

- J -