Setting kids free
Sitting in acupuncturist office, which is shared with a gynaecologist. I am here to say I don’t need to get acupuncture anymore, that I am doing much better.
Gynaecologist offices often have big pregnant women stroking their bellies. Enjoy being in this space because I remember from the look on their faces what it was like to have a baby growing inside of me. Remember the discomfort and overwhelm. Like a caged animal. But also the joy and excitement. And the feeling like it could all go to shit if I screw it up. Desperate to do it all right.
Now I’m an “old hand” at having kids, having had three, ages 6, 8, and 9 years old. And in the process I have gotten pretty passionate about setting kids free again. Because at some point I relaxed about external “disasters” like car crashes and kidnapping and realised another type of disaster was happening before our eyes: the disaster of kids not moving enough, not having enough free time & space to simply roam, daydream, play and JUST BE. (Not to mention the stress this type of over-scheduled time schedules causes to parents, especially mothers.)
What do I want to achieve with these 100 words a day?
* I want to stay connected to a topic I am passionate about, namely children’s “physical literacy”.
* I want to convince you, dear reader, that kids playing (unsupervised!) on the street, going places on their own — preferably with their own two feet — matters to you and your life — regardless if you’re a parent or not!
* Bolster my case with scientific evidence (while trying to sound not so boring)
* Propose solutions.
In the process I will reveal more about myself, an American mother-of-three living in southern Germany who has delved into this topic while working on a PhD-project that I never finished. I feel an urge to share all that I have learned during those years I spent researching. But haven’t found the appropriate “Medium” for doing so, so am interested to see if 100 Naked Words can get me to do that!
What if you had the courage to only do the work you love?
How much happier would you be? What separates the people who have the courage and those who don’t? Vulnerability. Accepting that they’re good enough to do the work that gives their life meaning.
1percentbraver.com is a community of people all ready to accept that they’re good enough. They get access to an online magazine that tackles problems like maintaining peak personal performance and how to promote yourself. They also get access to a recorded interview with a person of influence who’s used their vulnerability to empower instead of weaken themselves.
Next edition launches July 28th. Click here to apply to join the Braver Shortlist and tell me what work gives your life meaning. If you’re a good fit, you will have a spot saved for when the community re-opens.
