Somehow, as we get older, we lose the magic.  It gets buried under the responsibilities and commitments of life.  In other words, it gets buried in “adulting.”   We used to be so carefree, running barefoot, turning cartwheels in the grass, riding our bikes (before helmets were required) as the wind swept through our hair, when laughter was at the tip of our tongues just waiting to spill out, and we saw magic everywhere. 

“Children see magic because they look for it.”

Christopher Moore

One of the best things about being a grandparent is seeing the world through a child’s eyes again.  It causes us to slow down and soak in the beauty and wonder of everyday life.  A few years ago, my good friend asked if I had considered making a Fairy House for my then 5 & 7-year-old grandchildren.  It never occurred to me, and frankly, I wasn’t even sure what she was talking about.  So, she grabbed her phone and started scrolling.  Up popped magical pictures of fairy houses that people created.  The seed was now planted in my brain.  I enlisted the help of Mr. U (he owed me a few) and we found an old tree stump to build the Fairy House.  Once the door was built into it and the rock path was finished, I started adding the details that made it look lived in: a string of lights, a chair by the front door, a fire pit and a shovel.

I waited with anticipation to take the grands to see it.  I might have been more excited than they were.  Yes, I definitely was.  On a sunny spring day, we quietly walked down into the woods, so as not to scare them away.  When we got there, my then 7-year-old grandson squealed, “a leprechaun house!”  That was the magical moment it switched from a fairy house to a leprechaun house.  It was pure coincidence that his teacher recently had a leprechaun visit their classroom the night before St. Patrick’s Day and left footprints and gifts for the kids.  Maybe serendipity and magic go hand in hand.  My then 5-year-old granddaughter just stared at the house in wide eyed wonder.  That is when I saw the magic in her eyes. 

The kids immediately decided that the leprechaun was probably hungry and they should leave a gift of food for him.  However, it was clear to them that our dishes and food were way too big for him.  So, they dug out the little glass tea set and loaded it with leprechaun size pancakes and juice. They crept down to the miniature house in the tree stump and left their gift outside his door.  The next time they arrived at our house, they raced down to see if the leprechaun ate the food they left.  He did indeed, and in turn, he left a small gift of candy to thank them.  Behold – the tradition started!  Since that time, there have been numerous gifts back and forth.  The leprechaun left them notes carved into wood, such as “thanx nise kidz.”  (The leprechaun is a terrible speller and is not so good at printing either.  Smile.)  The kids have left notes for him back.  Pure magic.  

It got me wondering how we can bring the magic back into our lives.   What is it about childhood that makes magic so easy to experience?

• No schedules.  When we were kids, we did not keep calendars or schedules.  We were ruled by the cycles of the seasons.  School starts in the fall and ends in the spring, and in between there was summer and Christmas break.   I remember summer break when I would wake up with sunshine pouring in the window, spreading over my pink and yellow floral quilt.  I would lay there for a while, stretch, and think, “hum, what should I do today?”  It was a world full of possibilities.  On those warm summer days, we were shooshed outside to go play and get some fresh air.  And we knew we could not come inside too soon, or we would be shooshed right back outside again.  That created lots of “time freedom” to do whatever our imagination led us to.  The freedom from schedules gave us the opportunity to create magic. 

• Creativity. I believe that all humans are naturally creative, we just exercised it more as children. Oftentimes, it takes open time and a carefree feeling to allow our creativity to flourish.  As kids, we would create magic out of anything.  A dried flower became a doll with flowing petals for hair, a few sticks stacked up turned into a fort, and wet dirt, patted down flat transformed into a delicious looking mud pie. Life was full of magic back when we made castles in the sand and stories out of images in the clouds.  We created magic out of the ordinary.

• We did not care what others thought.  Well, we did have to care what our parents thought, but we were still oblivious to scrutiny from our peers.  We had not yet donned the heavy weight that comes with trying to fit in.   There is freedom in being silly, without fear of looking foolish or being judged.  When we are free of other’s opinions and expectations, we are free to create magic, because the magic is for our souls only to experience. 

• We felt life with all 5 of our senses.  We used our bodies to run, jump, play, taste and feel life.  We screamed with joy and shock when we jumped in the lake for the first time in the summer and the cold water took our breath away.  When was the last time you did that, and it made your goosebumps smile?  And was there anything better than an ice-cold popsicle in the middle of a hot afternoon?   We kicked through the leaves and laughed when we carelessly fell into a big pile of them.  There is magic in using our five senses to feel alive. 

• We had not yet become jaded.   How does that quote go, “there is nothing new under the sun.”  Yet, children see the world through fresh eyes.  They see the details in every aspect of life.  Ever try doing a quick cardio walk with a child?  They need to stop and explore every bug and blade of grass.  Maybe we need to see everything with fresh eyes again.  Start noticing the intricate details of the moss growing on a tree, the shades of color in a fall leaf, or the smell of the earth right before it rains.

Bringing the magic back

I purpose that being retired is the perfect time to bring the magic back in our lives. You don’t even have to have grandkids to do it (although it is helpful). Once retired, we have loose schedules with open hours to let our creative juices flow.  We have time to live in the moment instead of feeling like you have to make every minute count in order to get everything done. (I remember those days well.) By the time we are retired, we are past caring what our peers think of us.  We are more emotionally free, and it is time to lift the jaded veil that we view our lives through and become conscious again. Make the effort to notice the details and beauty of everyday life. It is time to be “awed” by life again.

“I have always believed in the magic of childhood and think that if you get your life right that magic should never end.”

Colin Thompson

So, what happened to the magic?  It is still there; we just have to unearth it again.  And what better time than retirement to do that?  If we are fortunate enough to have our health, a few good friends and family, and enough money to keep us out of the food line, then we are poised to bring the magic back.  Go ahead and jump in the cold lake and feel the chill take your breath away, ride your bike with no destination in mind, or put a blanket out on the cool grass and watch for shooting stars.  Take your shoes off and feel the mud squish up between your toes.   Stop and watch the hummingbird eat or melt into the sunset for longer than five minutes. So go ahead… exhale and be prepared to be awed by life again.