Childlike not childish.

Some words in life have a subtle but vitally important difference. Take the difference between childlike and childish for example. To be childlike is to retain that essential curiosity that children have, that need to explore and ask questions, to want to know ‘why’ to the point where it infuriates others. Albert Einstien is a brilliant example of being childlike as is contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.

Childish is something less positive, it’s negativity unchecked, it’s a failure to aquire wisdom as we grow. To see the childish in action, look no further than the British Parliament where a a room of fully grown men and women hurl abuse at each other as the county slowly rots from neglect. There is a point to stop the nastiness and that is clearly where the innocent suffer.

I see the consequences of where adults fail to act like one whilst they are responsible for children and I see the damaged human beings that have been raised as a result. Lowering yourself to the maturity level of children or young adults is a deeply troubling thing to witness. It sets a poor example to them and it keeps the adult stuck intellectually and emotionally. There is also something about it that makes the flesh crawl… Perhaps it is something to do with the numbers of disc jockeys and children’s television presenters who are later discovered to be  paedophiles but there is something deeply unwholesome about those who have people much younger than them as their best friends.

Me, I have one foot in the childlike camp while the other is deadly serious about everything. I have a massive collection of toys, which tends to confuse people into thinking that I am some big kid but I appreciate them for being the tiny sculptures that they are. I also make teddy bears which confuses people even further. I have retained a love of bright colours and wide eyed wonder and I keep asking the ‘whys’. I try and temper this with wisdom though, and an understanding of my responsibilities to others. I try and retain that naivety that tells us to be honest to ourselves and others and to do the right thing. It’s not easy in this world, but I keep trying…

I’m very trying apparently