Second Star To the Right!

"And straight on till morning."
That, Peter had told Wendy, was the way to the Never land.

Welcome, welcome to my adventure in staying young at heart.

Be sure to visit all the other wonderful adventures of participants listed here on the left side of this post.

There are a few things that are key to having a youthful heart. The first of which, is the ability to DREAM!

‘To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. ~Anatole France

And sometimes if we dream hard enough we might actually be able to fly.

This summer my children and I took our adventure to Never Land. Here is my Lost Boy and I as we discover the second lesson in staying young at heart is the courage to EXPLORE!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain

And chances are good that while you’re exploring you’ll find ways to save those memories. Lesson Three in Staying Young at heart – CREATE!

Don’t just daydream, Create those dreams.

Make those dreams a reality.

All it takes is Faith, Trust and a little Pixie Dust.

Create a place where your imagination can soar… where you can remember all of your adventures both real and imaginative.

“Some pursue happiness - others create it.” ~Author unknown

Look at what magic a few discounted garden trellis’s, clothes pegs, thrifted sheets, curtains, and a few fairy lights and wings can create. An outdoor room perfect for learning the fourth step in staying Young at Heart. - IMAGINATION!

With a little Imagination you can be anything you want to be.

Princess as Tiger Lily and her garden.

Believe me the garden is real, as is the Princess and her dwelling.

As for Itchy the Dog, well she can only dream she’s as helpful as Nana. Personally I don’t think she quite has the imagination skills to make that dream a reality.

With a little Imagination and an enchanted shell necklace…

Maybe, just maybe you’d grow a mermaid’s tail.

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist the classic little mermaid pose.

Hope loved being a mermaid and even insisted on acting out the Fifth Lesson in Staying Young at Heart – FINDING JOY!

And you bet she enJOYed every moment singing like Ariel.

Joy is not in things; it is in us. ~ Richard Wagner

Ever notice how something as simple as blowing bubbles can entrance and entertain a toddler for hours. For them it’s Magic!

And MAGIC is our Sixth Lesson in Staying Young at Heart.

“Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.” ~Author unknown

And finding ways to make the magic last is a talent and gift to be cherished.

Yesterday evening in the parking lot of our grocery store I spied two children pointing at the sky. I stopped loading my groceries and looked up to see the most beautiful pinkish popcorn shaped clouds in a brilliant blue and lavender sky.

It’s Magic to witness the beauty in the small moments. The Sunset, the twinkling stars, the smell of a rose.

Sadly, the two children and myself were the only ones in the entire busy parking lot that embraced the magic and soaked up it’s beauty and joy. How much of this magic do we miss as we hurry through life?

Lesson Seven in Staying Young at Heart – DISCOVER!

Try new things. I’ve honestly never made a Sand Castle until this last week.

With just a bucket to scoop wet sand and a stick I made a Discovery.

I discovered what kids everywhere know - that it is actually quite fun to build and create and discover new things. I’m already planning Castle number 2.

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ~Plato

Lesson Eight – PLAY

When was the last time that you played an enjoyable game? If you quit playing because it is a child's sport, then you are wrong. As George Bernard Shaw said, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

And while you’re playing – Beware of HOOK!

Hook was so focused on being number one and squashing anything and anyone that annoyed him he lost sight of the true treasure life can bring us.

And that true treasure isn’t gold, wealth or high esteem from your fellow pirates.

Sometimes we bury that treasure, neglect it, and forget about it.

Thankfully, there is usually, and band of people willing to help remind us of the importance of Lesson nine – FRIENDSHIP

“If out of all mankind one finds a single friend, he has found something more precious than any treasure, since there is nothing in the world so valuable that it can be compared to a real friend.” ~Andreas Capellanus

More often than not some of your dearest friends are family.

The adventures you have with your friends and family can either help you become more like Hook or they can help you stay young and nourish your happy heart. So do you surround yourself with leeching pirates or magical fairies who constantly sprinkle pixie dust on your head and take you for enchanted adventures?

My wee fairy girls helped me create a magical village in the branches of a cedar tree in our backyard.

Filled with fairy homes reminding us of some of our families past fun adventures.

We couldn’t resist adding a Mermaid Lagoon as well.

So many fun memories from a truly unforgettable summer.

I promise our adventure to a Youthful heart is almost done. It does take a little work to be a kid. Don’t forget lesson number ten - BELIEVE

Believe in dreams, joy, magic and everything else and no matter how dark the night, how bitter the trial, you’ll be surrounded by peace, comfort and hope for a brighter future.

Isn’t that what being a child is?

I do believe in fairies, I do! I do!

I believe in Light. It’s enchanting.

And helps us find the way when life is dark and worrisome.

Michael: Mother, can anything harm us after the night lights are lit?
Mrs. Darling: No, Precious. They are the eyes a mother leaves behind to guard her children.

The final and most important lesson in staying Young at Heart is LOVE! To Love Life and Family is the truest source of joy and happiness we can ever find.

So the secret to staying young and having a happy heart is simple. Dream, Explore, Create, Imagine, Enjoy, Magic, Discover, Play, Friendship, Believe, and Love.

Now if your a kid, this post was unbelievably long, probably a wee bit boring and your itching to visit all the wonderful other party participants listed on the left hand side of my blog. Check them out then go create some youthful magic of your own. But before you leave drop me a comment. Say Hi or Tootles? Whatever floats your make-believe boat and you could win a little fairy packet. I'll pick a winner next Saturday!

And Thanks for letting me share my adventure to a youthful heart!