I watched the kids movie Grow the other day and it made me contemplate how many parents have told me that raising kids gave them
-a revival of childlike curiosity and awe towards the world and its creatures
and
-a renewal of that little kid sense of right and wrong that tells you you need to help suffering people and animals when you see them.
I know kids don’t always have this effect on their parents but I wonder what kind of impact having less little ones around will have on society by losing this feedback loop.
One easy example is that bringing home homework often leads to the whole family updating their knowledge—I remember informing my dad that iceberg lettuce had very little nutritional value after learning it in health class!
I’m still holding on to that childlike wonder and curiosity at 35. I’ve taught myself to spot the signal that says “don’t do this because of what others might think” - and then do it anyway.
Oh, a cool bug! Let me look closer… wait, I can’t, there are people around. No no, hold on - that’s the signal. Now you must. And now I’m the guy squatting in the middle of the sidewalk observing a beetle.
Just a few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast discussing this exact topic, and ironically at that same moment I was messing with my new camo net, trying to hide my bike under a tree for no other reason than I’d just bought the damn thing and wanted to try it. I was fully aware of how awkward I’d feel if someone stumbled on me, but that self-consciousness was exactly the signal telling me I was doing the right thing.
This is the best sandbox game ever. There are no rules, you can interact with anything - and it’s multiplayer too. Amazing.