The Importance of Frolicking

     As a culture we seem to have forgotten the importance of frolicking. Frolicking, in essence, is a playful gesture often seen in children: skipping through a field, playing in the mud, running through the woods and laughing all the way. In general we have lost our ability to play in such ways considering them to be childish. In reality we've become so "adult" that we consider ourselves often too old or having "outgrown" these playful activities and simple enjoyments of life. 

     Let me start by defining terms. 1) Frolicking; Unabashed joy and unashamed togetherness (Frolicking is rarely done alone). When people say, "It's the little things," they summarize what I mean by frolicking. I will expound on its importance after a few more definitions. 

     2) Childish. Childishness is the inability to cope with responsibility, to interact properly, and to only do what we feel like doing. Laziness, disregard of responsibility, and a sense that one deserves without earning are sure signs of Childishness. Obviously this is the negative side of being a child and unfortunately it is often lumped in with Childlikeness. 

     3) Childlikeness is to be utterly honest, creative, exploring, in awe of everything, hopeful, and believing. Alas, Childlikeness is often thrown out with Childishness and abandoned in an attempt to "grow up." All of the Childlike qualities are things that many adults try to regain through midlife crises. We know that we have missed out on experiencing what life has to offer when these qualities dim or die out of our daily lives. 

     4) Being an "Adult." Cold, suppressing of desires, ruthless, and generally "too cool for school." As though some how growing up is to be desperately inert, being an "adult" has caused more misery following its stigmatism and has driven our culture to condemn the creative and condone mediocrity. Contrast with. .  .

     5) Maturity; knowing, discerning, and performing proper conduct in any situation; to be respectful and considerate of others. The wonder of maturity is that is does not conflict with Childlikeness at all. Maturity knows that there is a time and place to climb a tree and yet it does not oppose the climbing of trees. It considers other's feelings and is therefore able to both compliment, critique, and act tactfully. 

     Our goal should be to be both Childlike and Mature: to know when and how to frolic. It is possible to be Childish, refusing to mature, and/or and "adult," refusing creativity and passion for life, so much so that we believe it normal. These are either extreme of avoiding reality and responsibility. We have a tendency to follow both of these negative paths because they are popular, conformed, and easy. Nobody wants to stand out and our standardized culture oppresses and abuses the Childlike and tries to take advantage of the mature. 

     This is the importance of frolicking; to be able to wisely discern, in consideration of others, what act(s) would bring the most joy to everyone and to one's self. We must wean ourselves from the ever popular and indicted sense of being owed (Childishness) and the idea of putting ourselves and others down for creativity and joy ("Adult"-ness) and chew the true foods of Childlikeness and Maturity. Then we will live as we should, as we are meant, as we desire. We must strive to loose our resistance, feel the wind in our faces, and unapologetically frolic together.