Before Life Got Serious: Lessons From the Child You Used to Be

Today, I sat and reflected on some of my most exciting childhood memories. I remembered how play used to be fun—pure, unfiltered fun. As a child, there were no limits to what I could do or become. I could effortlessly transform into any character I imagined. In one moment, I was a mighty soldier wielding an imaginary or hand-crafted pendo or spoke gun. The next, I was a star footballer scoring goals in one-on-one matches or defending heroically in team play.

I could be a craftsman, building guns, cars, or anything I imagined using wire, wood, bamboo, or clay. I even played the role of a father or a child—lol. What’s even more remarkable is that most of these activities and the learning that came with them were not supervised by parents or teachers. It was just us, the children, taking it upon ourselves to learn, create, explore, and perfect whatever role, craft, or sport we were immersed in.

These transformations didn’t always come easy. I got bruised and injured trying to become the best version of whatever character I embodied. I remember learning how to do flips—front and back. Sometimes, the move wouldn’t come off quite right, and I’d get “planted,” as we used to say. "Uku Itwika"—a Bemba term—describes when your head hits the ground and the flip is incomplete. Painful, yes. Fortunately, I was never seriously hurt in those moments, and more importantly, it never stopped me from trying again.

I even remember one time I broke my leg trying to lift a heavy iron garden table my father had bought. I was pretending to be a mighty man, showing off my imaginary strength. After the leg healed, I went back again—and this time, the table didn’t break my leg, but it hit me right on the forehead! Still, that didn’t stop me either. I kept going.

In many ways, I miss those childlike versions of myself. As adults, we often become so focused on surviving life that we forget to actually live it. We obsess over bills, business, careers, and maintaining a particular status. In the process, we lose the versatility and resilience that once came so naturally. Growing up seems to demand that we settle into one perfect version of ourselves, but the truth is—we were made to be more.

An adult might feel their world is shattered after a major setback like losing a job or a business failing. Depression often follows, especially when life demands big adjustments like starting over. But the younger version of ourselves—the child—would mourn the loss briefly, then shift into a new, exciting role, quickly rediscovering joy and purpose.

That’s the kind of faith we need—the faith of a child. If something no longer works or brings joy, we must be willing to switch. We can’t stay static and expect life to bring excitement or progress. Yes, we can be anything, but it starts with self-belief.

I might get planted again, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stay down. With each attempt, I can land the perfect flip and become the envy of many. People may remember the failure, but they’ll talk more about the comeback—the resilience, the grit, the bounce-back.

We will fail many times. But we must keep trying.

There’s nothing stopping you from being a great mum and an entrepreneur. Nothing stopping you from being a professional by day and an athlete by evening. Human beings aren’t built to be confined to one mode of expression—we thrive in variety and purpose.

Before anyone else can believe in you, you need to believe in yourself. It’s wonderful to have others who support you, but their faith is meaningless if you don’t have your own.

Thank You for Reading!

Once again I truly appreciate you for taking the time to read my latest blog post. Your time and attention mean a lot to me. If the content resonated with you, please feel free to like, comment, and share it with others who may benefit from the discussion.

Your feedback helps me grow, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment or share your thoughts—it’s always a pleasure hearing from you!

You can also explore more insightful articles I’ve shared in the past by visiting my blog homepage:

https://chilukakula.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new post. Let’s continue the conversation and grow together.

Thank you once again!

— Pritchard C. Bweupe