Who is your inner child?

Her journey, her path, her life…

The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
https://youtu.be/fR4HjTH_fTM

The song! The legend! Paul McCartney recorded this melancholy love song January 26, 1969, and what a gift! If you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to delve into the lyrics a little deeper., maybe even taking it “down a different road”…(haha see what I did there!)

Even though this song was written for his significant other, may I just say that this is applicable in our own lives as referring to our “inner child.” What do I mean by this? Well after listening to this song (and feeling a little melancholy myself) I was thinking about that little girl I left behind. The little Jami. The little you.

• The you before all the disappointments
• The little you before all the hurts
• You before all the dream crushers
• Before all the stresses of everyday life

What about you?

Do you ever think about that? The little girl you left behind? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if NONE of those disappointments and distractions had gotten in your way and the path you chose was a different one. What would your life look like now?

How were you different as a child?

For me, that little Jami…Oh y’all! She was a big dreamer! Her optimistic attitude was like a tidal wave…AND it was contagious. And that smile… let me tell ya’…is her greatest asset. I loved the outdoors, climbing trees, and catching crawdads in the creek behind her house with her uncle who was only 2 years older than herself. Goodness, I can see her, with her stringy, straight-as-a-board, brown hair, and her lanky body. She was free. Free to be her wild self, full of life and ideas and yes tons of optimism. That inner child….the little Jami, where did she go? So, why do we allow so many things and people to distract us?

Somewhere along the way we…

“left her standing there, in a pool of tears,” as the lyrics say.

Somewhere along the way we forgot her.

Make a list of how you remember the little you

We may have tried to find our way back to her. We may have tried to find that door that takes our adult-self back to that sweet innocent being who has all her dreams in her hand. Those dreams that are not stolen from her and she doesn’t hold too tightly to them, but rather open handedly offering her beauty and dreams to the world. When we are quiet and reflective and honoring to OURSELVES, we can hear her. You will remember that burning passion inside of you that wants to make your world better. We will remember our desire to be free and full of life and joy and love. We see her and her authenticity. Don’t leave her “waiting.” Don’t leave her behind. Make the list. Write it down! Look at it everyday. She is still there begging for you to let her be free.

My promise to you…

Even though it may seem like she is gone and your dreams are no longer attainable, I promise you she is still there…at the door, waiting for you to invite her and all the dreams back into your life. LISTEN!

Embracing your long and winding road means discovering your true self, your inner child. Do you remember her? Do you remember her dreams? She has so much to offer this world. Don’t quiet her. BE HER!