With passage of time, you grow old. Well, there is no other option left with you or is there? Some grow old mentally (simply calling it maturity) while many keep the essence of childhood intact in them even when the skin starts to show wrinkles.

Although Children’s Day is a celebration of Chacha Nehru’s love for children, this day has turned into 24 hours of embracing early memories, updating witty WhatsApp status, uploading childhood photos on Facebook and an acceptable day to be nonsensical and portray the child in you.

But do we seriously need only one day (that’s it) to imbibe the traits of our early existence that holds the closest in our memory box? If the childhood was the best part of our lives, then what went missing now?

Here are the 10 most appropriate traits that we should all need to inculcate in us to feel like a child again (read: NOT childish):

Express Yourself: Do NOT copy, do NOT compare. Be you and be comfortable in who you are. Remember, life is short and you can choose to live it how you want it. Either you can dumb yourself just so that you can fit in, or you can express gladly and impress maybe not everyone around you but yourself!

Kids are kids. They only stop acting themselves when they start seeing themselves through other’s eyes.

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Think out of the Box: Put your mind to work and not the computer. There is immense creativity in every one of us which is slowly turning saturated with the growing technological era but don’t turn off the tap of creative ideas. Go check the old boxes of your childhood stuff kept in your closet and you will know what I am talking about.

Think. Create. Stop doubting yourself.

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Be HAPPY: While the definition of this most-used word may differ from person to person in today’s world; but for kids, it remained to the simple things of life; the little things of life. Happiness is just about being.

If you find happiness in singing out loud, do it! If happiness is eating the biggest piece of cake, do it! If happiness is collecting candy wrappers, do it! If happiness is kissing your mother even if she is working, do it!

Don’t keep on looking for happiness, create it.

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Gratitude, Empathy & Love: One of the most important thing that most of us have forgot, neglect or procrastinate to do is show gratitude, empathy and love. If kids are taught to say Thank You to an adult who gives him a toffee since an early stage, then why as an adult we rarely use that word for people who have done the biggest deeds for us?

Why there are so many videos on the internet from across the world showing kids displaying love towards each other, empathy for all kinds of people (handicapped, challenged, disfigured or obese etc.) and so less videos comparatively with adults in them?

When the Power of Love overcomes the Love for Power, the world will know peace.

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Sharing– Remember the advertisement of Kissan Jam showing the most important virtue in a simplistic way- sharing? With the growing age, we have become selfish, self centered and egotistical (yes, it is a hard truth). We even feel burdened sharing a Smile, let remain the other things.

Share ideas, joy, jokes, time, food, interests, dreams and more. This trait will be better understood by those who had siblings to share the room and study table with or have shared more than just books and clothes while living in a hostel.

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Take time out- Breathe: We are so caught up in everyone else’s affairs that we have completely forgot to take time for ourselves. Are you working your mind out in your 9-5 (which gets extended to 9-8) job? Take the time out on the weekends for yourself, your family and your loved ones. Sometimes, money isn’t always the key to happiness (if one wants to argue).

Take out the colors from the desk again and paint; dust off the shoes and go running or dancing; sit in a café, sip some coffee and read the book that you had always wanted to but didn’t get TIME; watch Andaz Apna Apna, Dil to Pagal Hai, Duck Tales, Chachi 420, Cinderella, or anything that was your favorite many years back. Breathe!

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Try Once: What happened to that dream of you wanting to take a solo trip across the state; try acting in theater plays; go bungee jumping; learn new forms of art; take that car once again on the road after you hit the pole while reversing years back? The inquisitive, restless mind of a child doesn’t think of the results but believe in doing, even if he meets failure.

Got a dream? Live it.

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Appreciate little things in Life: Ever seen the joy of a child’s face when he is given a new thing? Brewing with bubbling energy, the young minds want to explore the world even if it suffices to a single room of the house. How you define the little things of your life will bring to you immense pleasure and purest joy.

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Educate yourself: Ask more. Know more. Learn more. Grow the vistas of your knowledge and you will realize how little you know out of the entire information there is in the world. Read good books, meet new people, share ideas & experiences, spend time with family & loved ones, learn to listen, accept failure when it comes, grow with mind, accept others’ suggestions too.

There is so much to see, so much to do with so little time.

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LIVE: The simplest mantra that should be on the number 1 position of ‘how to live a life’ is the four letter word: L-I-V-E. Each day, each moment, bring life in them that will add years to your life.

Life is one big road with lots of sings. So when you are riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality. Wake up and Live!

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While those who understood the meaning behind these 10 traits are joyfully living their life; while those who still have doubts, surround yourself with kids and you will know what is missing.

Don’t let the child in you ever die! Happiest Children’s Day