The Tao of Pooh (for Forts)

Yesterday, I decided to rediscover my inner child. So, naturally, I built a fort. I gathered up a bunch of sheets and tacks and tape, recruited my lovely friend, Tori, to help with the childish endeavor, and got to work in the middle of my living room. Three short hours later, Tori and I had built one of the most beautiful forts I have ever seen, complete with lanterns, streamers, balloons, and, in the spirit of all good forts, an extensive list of fort rules. Knowing that this cozy example of architectural genius was a cause for both celebration and exhibition, we invited all of our friends over for an impromptu tea party. (After all, what kind of party is better inside a fort than a tea party?) The rest of the night was spent in the company of great friends tucked away under mismatched bedsheets and streamers. Was it childish? Yes. Was it frivolous? Definitely. Would I like my future employer to know that I participate in such activities in my spare time? Probably not. But for those few hours that I spent laughing and chatting in that silly little fort of mine, I felt absolutely, totally, and completely carefree. And most importantly, I was happy. Just like I was when I was five years old. It was fabulous!

All of this fort nonsense got me thinking: why don't I do this more often? Or better yet, why don't people in general do this more often? Because it's immature, I suppose. It also takes up precious time and energy. And it musses up public living spaces quite a bit, too. However, it's so incredibly relaxing to convert back to the ways of a child, and every single one of my friends who entered that fort realized the same thing. With societal expectations of responsibility and respectability and maturity and dependability for the over-18 crowd, is it too much to ask for a little simplicity? Childhood was simple; you color within the lines, can (somewhat easily) blame everything on the dog, and when a problem arises--poof!--you just use your imagination to make everything better. And in the midst of all of the complexities of adulthood, while adulthood definitely has its benefits, sometimes an afternoon spent like a child again is the most wonderful thing in the world. As The Tao of Pooh states, "When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few, other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret: life is fun."

So, cheers to childish activities that keep us all young at heart, and to the adult maturity that allows us to truly appreciate them!

(Photos: Tori Simmons)