Don’t Treat Me Like a Five-year-old Because I Want to Remain Open-minded
Can I Stay a Little Girl Forever?
“I want to live in a small house by the sea.” Said a little girl.
“You will never be able to afford it. Just forget.” An evil wolf replied.
The little girl sadly hung her head…
“Probably he wants it for good, and I’m not being grateful enough.” She thought.
And so she believed she could never have it…
Off to Granny’s
When the little girl was actually little, her mum sent her to her granny’s. The granny strove to turn the little girl into her mother, quiet and obedient.
“Older people always know better.” The granny used to say.
And the little girl believed as she didn’t know what else to believe. She really tried, but her voice was too loud and her movements were too snatchy. She was nothing like her granny wanted her to be.
The little girl failed to fit in. But she was desperate that someone loved her. Her granny lived by the forest, so the little girl decided to find someone there.
Off into Society
“Where do you see yourself in five years?” A big bear-boss asked the little girl.
“I’ve no idea who I am. How can I know the future?” Thought the little girl.
But she was too shy to say it out loud. And she was too far into the forest to find a way out on her own.
“Eeerrr… I want to be a passionate team player and meet my KPIs.” She uttered.
The bear liked this answer.
“You have to take extra responsibility to prove it.”
And the little girl learned to smile, write a copy, promote, analyse, and manage others. And smile again.
“Still not good enough. You must do more.” Got the little girl instead of a promotion.
“But do I actually want to keep smiling in these cubicles?” She thought.
The little girl chose not to prove that she was good enough.
“Whatever. I’ll work in startups.” She thought.
The little girl failed to fit in. Again. She was far into the forest, but at least there were heaps of flowers, berries and animals.
Off to Independence
“Startup can’t be a serious job to take care of yourself. Why am I always to think for both of us?” Howled the wolf.
“I need to do something significant. Help people.”
“Helping people doesn’t pay our bills. We’re going to live in the city. We’ll make money and get a mortgage.” The wolf said.
The little girl didn’t know where she wanted to live. Apart from living by the sea. But what sea?
There was no other option, though. The little girl had to take it or leave it. So she decided to take it and explore the world.
That time she did fit in, and it made her sad and anxious. Like a normal grownup.
Off to the Rabbit Hole
The little girl suddenly found herself in the depths of the forest. No longer did she hear the birds and see the sun.
“Is that what a grown-up life feels like?” She cried out.
“It is or it is not.” A caterpillar responded.
The little girl didn’t know where the caterpillar came from. Much later, she realised that created it herself while wandering through the dark forest.
“What do I do?”
“Ask, challenge, grow. But not older.” And the caterpillar faded away.
And so she did.
“We can’t afford to live by your stupid sea, so we’re getting the mortgage.” The wolf insisted.
“But will it make you happy? What are the criteria for being happy?” The little girl learned the caterpillar’s lesson.
Soon, she noticed that grownups hated questions like these. Any questions they don’t know the answers to. Because older people know better, as her granny used to say.
The little girl failed to fit it and was still far in the forest. At this time she just stopped and… turned the flashlight on.
Out of Boundaries
Stepping back into that forest allowed the little girl to see where she was going. And if she was in a fairytale, she would see the light, find her way or meet a prince.
In reality, she saw she was going in the wrong direction. But had no idea which way to go.
Bears and wolves insisted that they knew better. But the little girl kept asking questions. And questions became her crucifix that made vampires disappear.
She was still unsure of which sea she wanted to live near. So she decided to explore and find the right place.
But how to determine whether the place is right? The little girl made a list of criteria for the ideal one:
- Safety
- Open-minded community
- Sea or ocean nearby
Now, it doesn’t look childish, does it?
As time went by, in a normal fairytale the little girl became a princess or someone’s wife. In reality, she’s still been up to looking for the right place.
And although the house by the sea hasn’t happened to her, the little girl knows that it will. She can make it happen. And she won’t let the wolves and the bears decide for her.
For the time being, she decided to wait and travel. If anything changes, I’ll let you know. And now I just go and play with the world.
I dared to remain the little girl. Did you?
