"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw.

With another birthday approaching I find myself reflecting on the inevitability of aging.

Do you know someone who, on turning a particular age, threw in the towel on life? Maybe they up-ed their visits to the doctor, increased medication, complained of aches and pains, felt lower in themselves and literally began to age infront of your eyes. Did they resign themselves to the fact that their best years were behind them, that they had nothing but struggle, pain, old age and death to look forward to? They may have turned seventy or they may have turned thirty. Age is an attitude.

On the other hand have you ever met someone who is content with life and seems to flow with it and it flow through them. Regardless of their age, there's a spring in their step and a softness or twinkle in their eye. They too may have alot of committments and pressures. But as long as the child within them is alive and well, they will find fun and light-heartedness in almost any situation and can be heard humming a tune or tapping their toes.

We may feel heavy and old and that we've lost our spark - that our inner child, was lost many years ago - ran away because of our troubles and worries. The good news is that it's never too late to bring that child back. He/she never grows old, and was always inside us the whole time. We all have the same amount of life inside, whether we've just come into the world, or are on our way out - it is limitless and joyful. The thing is, do we let the baggage we accumulate stop us from our own joy and fun or do we dump the load, make peace with it and stop gathering more, freeing ourselves up to be our natural, carefree selves?

That child inside comes out whenever we have fun and especially when we have spontaneous, belly-shaking laughs so why not go on a swing, climb a tree, swing your legs out wide while freewheeling down a hill, laugh at yourself, wear humorous underpants, play with children or pets, imagine yourselves doing ridiculous acts and having adventures.

There's nothing wrong with reverting back to childhood as you grow older. Infact, it most likely leads to a longer, happier and freer life.