Reckless Abandon

Being able to operate one-hundred percent freely is a privledge of only well-cared for children. When your parents have done a good job of protecting you and providing for you at age four, your brain can't even fathom the depths of evil and weight of responsibility of the world. You just frolick from one plaything to another finding everything fascinating and fun. Your creativity is at fully alive and you can make anything into a game--running down a hill, throwing rocks, or digging in the dirt. Your imagination is unfiltered, seeing a fantastical story in every moment. At age four, you don't even know how lucky you are to have this freedom. You just enjoy it.

Experiencing reckless abandon as an adult is a trickier goal to accomplish. How much we long for this type of deep breath unbridledness. When adults run full speed toward their desires and passions, they often get tripped up and run over multiple times. It's very rare to have the safety and protection you need to really open up wide. After trying and failing so much, it's very difficult to be brave enough to try again. Can we ever get there?

The trick, it seems, is to set yourself up for this kind of freedom. Reckless abandon ]

\only happens in contexts you curate for yourself. Those with discipline set aside free time and free money, and then collect company who are loving, accepting, and protective.

Free Time

Reckless abandon can't happen all the time. The people who seek this end up on the streets, delusional, and often addicted to something serious. Work is not only important, but really valuable in giving a person purpose. But all work and no play makes Jack a neurotic, bitter old man. Carving out a solid Sabbath, not only honors the Creator who made you, recognizing his provision and protection, but also solidly grounds you in a rhythm of rest. This time of freedom is really the only stable place to work from.

Free Money

What a concept! I don't mean to be flippant. I realize that as a middle class American I live with the rare privilege of disposable income. I don't expect that all humans are able to budget for jet skiis or Disney World vacations. But I do expect that with some intentional effort, small amounts (even $10) can be occasionally saved for "little treats." Remember the wild adventure of riding your bike to the convenience store for a slurpie when your dad paid you to mow the yard? That exhilaration can be matched when you give yourself permission to budget a specific amount for full freedom. Spending that small amount without guilt or fear is one-thousand times better than spontaneously blowing a huge chunk of cash you actually needed for your rent because you just can't take the oppressive responsibility anymore.

Protective Company

This condition might be the hardest to acquire. We can't relax if someone isn't standing guard. To recklessly abandon our inhibitions, we have to have protective company. Get to know the benevolent, self-sacrificial Creator through his son Jesus. People who know how good their God is can relax knowing they are protected and provided for.

For tangible community, whether this is family, friends, or a partner, you're looking for people who value your life and look out for you. They don't judge and don't take themselves too seriously. These people need to be self-aware and attuned to others. They need to have solid character and be dependable. They need to be brave enough to be themselves, and humble enough to show their cards. Finding these types of people can be hard because it takes time to see how people actually are. But keep looking until you find a crew that surrounds your life. Being this kind of person will attract these people to you.

Who doesn't want to practice reckless abandon?! The freedom of children absolutely can be found as an adult if you are willing to build this kind of life for yourself.

Unsplash: Saad Chaudry