I was invited to my friend’s 6 year old birthday party which was held at an indoor rock climbing venue. I have climbed a couple of times in the past so felt confident that I could lend a helping hand and hold onto a rope or two.
As I held the rope that kept these kids from falling on their tender heads I learnt some valuable life lessons:
1. Do Something You Fear – it was obvious as we buckled the kids into their harnesses that some were quite nervous about getting themselves up the wall. What I loved was how easy it was to calm their fears by talking through how safe the equipment was and how they would be secured by a rope, so even if they slipped they would be caught. How many excuses do we adults put in our own way so that we never have to face our fears?
2. Trust Completely – these kids showed complete trust in me, an adult most of them had never met before, to keep them from harm. It made me realise how precious that trust is and how easily it can be broken by an unkind word or action. When was the last time that you put that kind of trust in someone?
3. Learn Something New – these kids THREW themselves at the climbing wall. All they could think of was getting up and up and up. Every move they made they learnt a new piece of information about how to use their hands and feet to better effect. When was the last time that you threw yourself at something in that way?
4. Don’t Give Up – some of the kids found it hard to figure out the best way to get up the wall. The great thing was that as soon as they had repeled down the wall they wanted to try again and again. The fact that they didn’t get to the top the first time only fuelled their enthusiasm.
5. Fly – when the kids wanted to come down, dangling from the end of a piece of rope, every one of them was grinning from ear to ear as they got to “fly” down. The adults I watched were clinging desperately to the ropes and couldn’t let go of the wall. They missed the chance to fly because they couldn’t let go.
6. Do What You Love – this was a lesson for me as when I was teaching and encouraging young kids I had the patience of a saint. Generally I can be quite an impatient person but that all got put to one side when I shared what I knew and encourage those who are young and eager to learn.
Have you learnt any lessons from kids lately?
