Blog

Releasing Your Inner Child

By Melissa Hale

A few months ago, I booked a last minute vacation to the Caribbean with my best friend from high school. You see, my favorite band was playing at a five-day Caribbean music festival and I felt the world might end if I didn’t go. I begged my husband, Nick, to attend with me, but we just didn’t have the money and he couldn’t take the time off work. Also, we just didn’t have the money (did I say that already?). All signs pointed clearly in the direction of, “Melissa, this is a terrible idea, not practical and please just forget about it.”

While I tried with all my might to push this terrible idea out of my mind, my heart kept coming back to it. Why in the world couldn’t I let this go? I asked several friends if they were interested in attending, but having too many prior commitments: young children, lack of available funding, and an overall inability to make an impromptu decision, I was left thinking that this wasn’t happening for me.

Just over a week before the trip, my friend Teresa, mother of 3 children under 6 and full-time toxicologist, called to say she was in. Before I could even think about hesitating, we booked the trip. I started daydreaming about how fabulous it would be to sit on the beach with Teresa, sipping cold drinks and playing in the ocean. I felt terribly excited, and also like I had just done something wrong. Friends and family were shocked that we could make such a big decision last-minute. Even I began second guessing my decision. One friend even suggested I was having a “mid-life crisis”.

This epic trip, with my wonderful soul sister, ended up being just what I needed. We laughed our way pretty much through each day, joking at the absurdity and craziness of midlife. As we floated down the lazy river at the resort, we made a pact to never let ourselves “grow up” and turn down a once in a lifetime opportunity like this. What was the point of working full time, raising children, and being responsible adults if we didn’t also make time to play? What was the point of saving money if we didn’t use it for our own enjoyment?

While outwardly this trip wasn’t “practical,” I will always remember this vacation as the reminder I needed to further claim my own freedom, happiness, and play. If anything, this experience has stoked my inner desire for more fun, playfulness and freedom.

Let’s be honest: you don’t have to travel to far off places to have fun, nor do you have to spend any money at all. Prioritizing play and fun in everyday life is not only possible, it is the medicine that most “adults” need right now. Can you imagine going to the doctor and instead of getting a prescription for an anti-depressant you got a prescription to include more free-time in your life? Reclaiming the freedom and expansion of your inner child is possible, and may just be the key for becoming the most expansive and playful version of yourself!

Melissa Hale is a psychotherapist and teaches workshops at Elle. Learn more about how to tap into your inner child on Wednesday, June 20th at 6pm. Register at ellewellstudio.com/workshops.