Gratitude for the Old Soul
/November. The gratitude month. The month of my daughter’s birth. She could have been a Halloween baby but held on, inside her safe cocoon, until the 1st, foretelling her priority position in my life. The probability of her old soul status was frosting on the cake.
Many parents find their personal growth is, in no small part, directly related to raising a child. For me, full adulthood commenced at my daughter's birth. Motherhood signaled a form of grownup-ness I'd been missing and was validation that real life had begun.
Translating the needs of a little one is like learning a new language. A love language where the word heart becomes the root of all expressions. I never fully understood love until then. I grew as much as my daughter did in those first few years.
You’ve probably enjoyed this social media video of a super cute 6-year-old girl using her plain words to explain big concepts on sharing, the meaning of life, and my personal favorite--let’s all just be friends. The videos go viral bringing these bright minds' powerful lessons into millions of homes. Messages so powerful we can't. stop. watching.
When we were that tiny, did we also know a lot? Until we learned to filter our thoughts, did we spit out a depth of knowledge and understanding that astounded our parents? How do these little ones know? Shall we give their messages serious consideration or merely be fascinated with their pint-sized wisdom?
Are these babies sharing knowledge from past incarnations or are they echoing ourselves?
Many years ago, a dear little, three-year-old girl, with the soul of an ancient, gazed out at a majestic dark sky and said to my then boyfriend, with the commanding confidence of a crone, “Marry Monica. It's in the stars.” Gulp! And so he did.
Online definitions of old soul children vary extensively. The Mind Unleashed's suggests that "instead of being wide-eyed and simplistic, your child is perceptive and complex." The Urban Dictionary's more street-wise explanation is that "they acquired certain knowledge from their past lives and apply it to their present life . . .thus gaining more wisdom than the average bloke."
Others say an old soul is content with the way things are and don't feel compelled to change the world. And yet another interpretation is simply described as a young person who prefers to hang out with adults. However we define, label and identify members of the old soul club, one thing is for sure ... we're delighted with them.
As it turns out, her soulfulness has sustained me.
While I no longer remember specific wise words my daughter spoke as a small child, I do remember hoping the old soul reference was accurate for her. Maybe I wished her deep soulfulness would sustain her after I left this life. Maybe I just wanted to know she would never be completely alone. As it turns out, her soulfulness has sustained me.
When we recognize our children's profound sensitivities, we approach them with respect, we listen more carefully and follow their lead. It worked for my boyfriend, whom I happily wed.
Old soul or not, she gave me the greatest gift.
November, the gratitude month. The month of my daughter’s birth. Old soul or not, she gave me the greatest gift. She taught me the language of love.
Lena, my heart, thank you.
Have you followed the advice of an old soul? Are you one yourself? Feel free to share your stories in the comments below.
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There is power in the group.
There is power in the solo.
There is power in the yes.