Other than a big hit of silly sigh been ?  ,,,,,,,,just foolin'.  Sometimes all the work involved in child rearing takes its toll but hang in there. I enjoyed reading everyone's way of accessing the magic of life.  For me, living in the moment, being outside, doing something new and challenging.   Once I did a zip line and it was the most fun I had had since I was a child. 
Big hug to you......  and remember to smile and laugh at everything.  ok?

I think that we know that the magic is INSIDE of us while we are young but as we get older we begin to look to outside stimulants and those lose their sparkle and interest too quickly. Look back to the inside where it always was and still is.

remember the magic, and practice it....

did you believe in the magic of certain holidays when you were a child?  bring that back.
did you marvel at the shapes that clouds can make?  bring that back.
wherever you remember that feeling from your life, focus on it, and bring it back.

draw pictures, dance when you feel like it, watch birds, have an ice cream cone, play dress up, be silly....

When Leslie said "Sing stuff instead of talking", I think she actually meant "Read catalogs as though they were classic literature". 

But laugh.  Laugh.  And laugh.

Live in the moment. Laugh at yourself. Sing stuff instead of talking. Enjoy nature in all its forms. All this works for me.

wonderful WONDERFUL peeps. thank you for your insights.

I don't understand why you'd rule out "pets or children or friends."  Add family to that list and that's where I find the magic. . . .

I'd rather not relive my childhood.  Oh certain events have special places in my memory. Being with my cousins, trick or treating, some early Christmas mornings.  I relive the good memories with my cousins and siblings and try not to dwell on the bad parts. And if the bad parts come up, we throw some dark humor on it.  

Having children does really give you another chance at making magic and creating wonderful memories.    Another thing that helps me is looking at certain things that haven't changed over time and are still magic to me.  I never look at a beautiful moon without feeling it's the first time I've seen it; the rain, rainbows after a rain, a beautiful day, leaves changing in Fall, a clear night sky filled with stars, a wonderful breeze, puppies (and their breath), kittens, the sound of laughter coming from the playground across the street, the first glimpse of a loved one waiting for you or getting off the plane at the airport.  Basically, the things time cannot take away from you.  These things  were always there and always will be.  So take a deep breath, look up, feel the breeze and feel alive............in other words GO OUT THERE AND PLAY!!!!   My god!  If you can't do it in SB, well then, tell me where!  And it's FREEEEEEE!!!!!!!! 

 

P.S. Welly, I'm all over that idea of traveling and seeing something new and amazing.....

Nature.

After years of working with engineers I felt as though all the magic had been taken out of stuff for me. Engineers know how everything works. It's fascinating, but I missed the magic.

Now that I've been away from constantly figuring out how stuff works for a time, I can believe again. And being in nature revives my sense of wonder.

The other thing is experiencing things you've never experienced before. When you're a kid EVERYTHING is new! As adults we get used to the lack of novelty and newness but when we travel, for instance, we recapture that sense of ...WOW!

So, maybe it's time you traveled somewhere and saw something you've never seen before, like an elephant or a guru or a castle or ........

Forget that magic is slight of hand, if you figure it out the trick is known and the magic vanishes. Don't try to figure it out this is the secret. Magic happens while watching the bouncing Badger; is he dancing for you to the song you hear? Really? The litter in the corner lot takes flight, the night lifts their wings; can you hear them signing? Birds flocking to fly from the pavement to freedom, like magic. Have we forgotten to see with our souls? What do children know about reality but what they feel in their hearts. The stick and rock magically become a ball and bat, the litter in the street -a circus; mothers and fathers love them always happily ever after.

Mellie, I find that I can't plan the moments of magic - they just happen and I know them when they come - but they are what fuel the fire in me, propelling me toward my dreams.

The magic occurs when doors open, and things become available, and serendipitous occasions bring us into contact with things or people.....and a horrible situation suddenly works out, or a song comes on the radio that brings me out of a funk.....or someone leaves that PM or emails with the EXACT words you needed to hear that day........it might not be like childhood magic, but it's magic all the same.

Belief is the biggest battle, for me. I believed a novel into existence...and there are some other things I did too...but others have yet to come. I am continuously working on the mechanism inside me that creates obstacles for the belief and the belief in magic.

*sprinkles magic faerie dust on her dear SB sistah* There. That's a good start.

I had a shitty childhood, so I decided to have a happy childhood now! These are the things I do:

-Be in the moment
-Ride my bike
-do art
-dance
-walk through the grass (barefoot, if you are that kind), or the beach.
-watch children play

Some things I would not do, but you might like:
-Join a theater group or a singing group
can't think of any others right now

And here's a real fun one, join the Burner group in your city. They sure do know haw to have fun!!!

For me - Art, Nature, Humor, Mocking Phineas and Vulnerability. 
What takes it away - Fear, Anger, Hopelessness and Self-seeking

I try not to let the loss of innocence get too far out in front (or behind) of me on the trail.
Also, I attempt to remain curious at all times.

I don't think there is any way to recapture the innocence and magic of childhood. In actuality that is a one time deal. However, we do create our own reality, so alls you can do is project a positive attitude and happiness and eventually it will become a self fulfilling prophecy. Caveat, all emotions and that is what we are talking about here, are temporary states. Hope this helps!

Interestingly enough, this was my consideration this morning - I've used drugs, religion, relationships, and anarchy as magic - but, my inner conflicts have not been resolved by these devices. - sometimes I feel so tired and empty, through struggle and sometimes bitter practice I get glimmers of my inner child - lately I've been discovering personal reasons why I work so hard to keep down that part of me who I need so badly.

I went through some sessions with a hypnotherapist last fall, I think that knocked a few things loose - have had a couple of minor avalanches but, The Big One is coming, I can feel it, and I'm looking forward to facing it  full-on.

I hope.

Interestingly enough, this was my consideration this morning - I've used drugs, religion, relationships, and anarchy as magic - but, my inner conflicts have not been resolved by these devices. - sometimes I feel so tired and empty, through struggle and sometimes bitter practice I get glimmers of my inner child - lately I've been discovering personal reasons why I work so hard to keep down that part of me who I need so badly.

I went through some sessions with a hypnotherapist last fall, I think that knocked a few things loose - have had a couple of minor avalanches but, The Big One is coming, I can feel it, and I'm looking forward to facing it  full-on.

I hope.

Interestingly enough, this was my consideration this morning - I've used drugs, religion, relationships, and anarchy as magic - but, my inner conflicts have not been resolved by these devices. - sometimes I feel so tired and empty, through struggle and sometimes bitter practice I get glimmers of my inner child - lately I've been discovering personal reasons why I work so hard to keep down that part of me who I need so badly.

I went through some sessions with a hypnotherapist last fall, I think that knocked a few things loose - have had a couple of minor avalanches but, The Big One is coming, I can feel it, and I'm looking forward to facing it  full-on.

I hope.

Interestingly enough, this was my consideration this morning - I've used drugs, religion, relationships, and anarchy as magic - but, my inner conflicts have not been resolved by these devices. - sometimes I feel so tired and empty, through struggle and sometimes bitter practice I get glimmers of my inner child - lately I've been discovering personal reasons why I work so hard to keep down that part of me who I need so badly.

I went through some sessions with a hypnotherapist last fall, I think that knocked a few things loose - have had a couple of minor avalanches but, The Big One is coming, I can feel it, and I'm looking forward to facing it  full-on.

I hope.

Interestingly enough, this was my consideration this morning - I've used drugs, religion, relationships, and anarchy as magic - but, my inner conflicts have not been resolved by these devices. - sometimes I feel so tired and empty, through struggle and sometimes bitter practice I get glimmers of my inner child - lately I've been discovering personal reasons why I work so hard to keep down that part of me who I need so badly.

I went through some sessions with a hypnotherapist last fall, I think that knocked a few things loose - have had a couple of minor avalanches but, The Big One is coming, I can feel it, and I'm looking forward to facing it  full-on.

I hope.