Childish or Childlike?

She said “you are so childish”. Not knowing the meaning, he took that as a compliment.

If not many, at least a few people take “you are childish” as a compliment. Some of us do not know, there is a word “childlike”. These are not the most often confused words because we think that everything that is related to child is fair and positive. Well, that’s true! But when you are a child. When we grow up and still continue to carry some of the qualities of children, they are classified as either ‘childish’ or ‘childlike’.

Unless you have some sadist elder at home who expects a 5-year old to be as disciplined as an army Major, everything you do is sweet when you’re a child. When you’re a child, even the coconut tree in your backyard didn’t mind when you watered it in your own way, even though what you watered was little salty. Because of your style of watering even the dog thought you’re his friend. You were playing with only some friends and never wanted to share your playthings with others. You were comfortable with some guests and you were telling some other guests on their face to get out. You could bathe in the courtyard, backyard and where not!! You could eat chocolates, have its traces stuck at your teeth and still get a kiss on your cheek by a neighbour aunt. You could wear just a basic minimum clothing (sometimes not even that) and run on the streets and people would say “How cute!!”. Imagine doing at least one of these acts after you have grown up! If you attempt, you should be either insane or CHILDISH.

This is what is being childish; being or doing something after growing up which look good only in the childhood.

We have some other qualities of children. They ‘trust’ people and stories without logic. They ignore the bad that others do to them. They forget quickly the mistakes others commit. They don’t remember pains & insults for a long time. They find happiness in playing with something like a twig that we, the elders, find so insignificant. Their ego is a small bowl without holes. It just needs a small praise to get filled. They cannot differentiate between good people and others with bad intents. They find everything fascinating and they are curious about everything. They are open to questioning on anything and everything without shying away thinking what others may think. Do you have any such qualities even after growing up? If yes, you’re so CHILDLIKE.

Needless to say, being CHILDLIKE is carrying those innocent qualities of childhood even after growing up.

Without our knowledge, we the grownups create different profiles for ourselves. You bring out a different personality when you are at workplace. You are different when you are with your childhood or college friends. Your family sees a different you. You are both CHILDISH & CHILDLIKE.

Unfortunately, we can’t be children again. Let’s at least try to be childlike. Growing up is so boring.