Learning to trust as we look through the fishbowl of life: growing up, getting old, giving back
/Do you remember a time when all you wanted to do was to be like the bigger kids? The bigger kids were cool. They were faster, stronger, and older. When you’re young the bigger kids are idolized for how they dress, talk, and behave. It always appeared as if the big kids had more responsibility and freedom; they stayed up later, got to talk on the phone longer, and played more active sports. But as we age we learn that getting older is not as cool or as romantic as our young minds once perceived. In fact, the curiosity and excitement of our youth is perhaps as free as we ever are.
While youth yearn to be older, adults fondly recall the allure of childhood. We gain wisdom as we age. Wisdom is collected and achieved from our life experiences. Although life’s lessons seem to manifest into wisdom later in life, when our bodies and minds have been well worn; it is never too late to remind ourselves to continue to discover that which provides us with a sense of promise and possibility. Youth does not interpret the things such as limits, controls, risks, and boundaries the manner in which adults do.
My 6-year old son is always telling me he wants to be older. His 4-year old brother has caught on to the “older is cooler” bandwagon as well. I tell them both that they are the perfect age, full of wonder and delight with the world around them, much like the way they have both gazed at their new friend, “Sunny Coleman,” a tropical freshwater Betta Fish species. The boys adore their new friend and member of the household.
The wonder of life
Sunny is wonderful and a joy to have around. As far as pets for kids go, he is low maintenance. He doesn’t bark, scratch, itch, growl, snarl, hiss, poop, pee, or smell. Sunny is peaceful and beautiful.
Most importantly, Sunny has already begun to capture the imagination of the boys. For example, my wife and I were delighted when the boys wanted to watch Sunny instead of the iPad at meal time. Sunny has shifted the boys’ focus from YouTube, video games, and other electronics stimulation. Don’t get me wrong, they still love their iPad time, but with Sunny in the home they now take time out to learn about and care for another form of life.
As I see the emotional and cognitive growth of my two sons motivated by a fish they named Sunny, it reminds me of the power of life, in all of its forms. Humans are fascinated by all that is alive, as life makes us flourish individually and collectively. The diversity of life is so important to our wellbeing, yet each day “adults” make deliberate decisions to destroy life.
Sunny Coleman
