We could be heroes.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

At the risk of having my family read this and rake me over the coals for it later, I wanted to be a princess.

I didn’t necessarily want to be pampered and twirl endlessly in a be-jeweled frock while extravagant gifts were laid at my feet… I mean maybe, a little. But what my real intention was that I wanted to be responsible for the kingdom and its well-being. I wanted to make the right decisions that benefitted the masses. I wanted to rescue them from dragons and invading villains. I wanted to be the hero in not only my story- but in those around me. Pretty heady for a five-year-old, really.

My son is four now and I asked him, “What do you want to be one day?” His answer was so simple and yet so complicated it has rattled around in my mind now for weeks and planted thoughts so ripe with fruit I have to share, lest it neglect consumption and eventually rot.

“I just want to be a boy”.

At first, like I’m sure you just did- I thought nothing of it, just a silly little man-cub that lacked the true context of the question put before him- he answered in earnest and answered plainly.

But how many of us have lost that simplistic joy of wanting nothing other than to be ourselves? Giving away the tiniest pieces of ourselves to those around us we don’t really notice when we stopped being us, “just a boy”.

A further thought on this: you’ve heard of raising the bar, or lowering your standards- par for the course. What if there was no bar, nowhere to go but up and golf was just a sport-not a life lesson? What if you were just you- doing the best you could to not suck as much as you did yesterday? Just one little thing every day to mirror the pieces that were given away unnoticed.

Today is the day you smile one extra smile at someone you don’t know. It’s the day you look up at where you are and take inventory of your life. Did your child self-think you would ever be where you are? What did you want to BE when you grew up- I wanted to be a princess and protect the kingdom.