I love spending time with children for many reasons. One of the things I love most about them is the way they remind me to live in the moment. Unlike many adults, kids are generally uninhibited by the need to perform. They find great joy in the simple pleasures of life: catching fireflies, riding a bike, reading a good book or drawing a pretty picture for a friend.They can get caught up in their interests for hours, pursuing it with single-minded attention. When I spend time with them, I remember what it means to be absorbed in the moment, to be so fascinated that I am open to all its beauty and opportunities.

I strive to maintain that same openness in my life. I allow those I love some leeway, daring to trust their love, even if we occasionally disagree. I allow myself to slow down and re-experience the simple pleasures in life. I let go of the idea that time well-spent must involve something that can be billed or bought. I am content to sit and blow balloons with kids or play with them, knowing that they are the ones who know what it means to truly live.