I enjoy taking pictures of children in their natural habitat, doing whatever it is that they do.  I think some of my strongest shots from taking pictures at special events are of children; the child looking back during a walk, holding their ears when the drums go by in a parade, and just basically enjoying life.  The only problem with this is, when the nearest adult sees me aiming my camera at the child, they yell out, “SMILE!  LOOK AT THE CAMERA!”  Now, that scares the kid, it scares me, and the moment’s gone.  Some people ask, “Don’t you sometimes wish you were still a child?”  Let’s just sayI’ve met my share of adult brats in my life.

I would not say that when I was a child it was a simpler time, I think things were just as hard as they are now.  That old saying goes, ‘The difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys.’  But when you’re a child you don’t think of things like handling more and more responsibilities.  If you think back, in elementary school it was just really important to draw inside the lines.  I know I’m dating myself but when I went to elementary school the most exciting thing was the 64-box of Crayons.  You think of the next new Hot Wheel car coming out.  Kids now think of the next new app, or the next new hit song. 

My point is, enjoy life, no matter what age you are.  And try not to let people mess it up for you when you’re just having fun. 

Sure, I can’t have the fun I used to, my knees won’t let me.  I’ll be the first one to have a little boy flashback and get the urge to take off running as fast as I can when I see a long hallway in front of me.  But now I’m okay to just walk down the hallway with a big smile on my face. 

In closing, I recommend all my friends and clients go out there and do something childlike.  That does not mean sticking your tongue out at someone you don’t like.  Just think of something care-free and fun.  Go buy a balloon just for yourself.

Talk to you next month!

-Kevin S. Nash

Photo Details:

Taken at The Hearing Loss Association of America’s 2011 Walk4Hearing event held at Ridley Creek State Park in Newtown Square, PA.