Lessons Learned

Here is the full quote:

"Die meisten Menschen legen ihre Kindheit ab wie einen alten Hut. 

Sie vergessen sie wie eine Telefonnummer, die nicht mehr gilt.

Früher waren sie Kinder,

dann wurden sie Erwachsene,

aber was sind sie nun?

Nur wer erwachsen wird und ein Kind bleibt, ist ein Mensch."

Erich Kästner

24. May 2011

Oh I forgot to translate it : 

"Most people discard their childhood like an old hat. 

They forget it like a telephone number which is no longer valid. 

In the past, they were children,

then they became adults,

but what are they now?

Only those that grow up and still stay children are human." 

I like this quote because I think it is so easy to forget that simple things can be fun. When you were little, a new toy or licking the bowl your mother had mixed cookies in was the greatest joy. When you went to a party, it was the lucky packet and the cake and the candles and the games that were important. It was running around in the garden and playing with your siblings. 

Nowadays children are separated from these simple pleasures : they want Xboxes and ipods and a virtual reality. They want to sit in front of the damn television and watch Justin Bieber on MTV.

I find it all slightly disturbing. We are imposing a technological world on someone who has no real choice. Hell, children in Germany thought cows were purple because the Milka (chocolate) cow is purple. Kids in grade 1 with iPhones. Kids wanting things things things things things things. 

I still like watching the sky and playing boardgames and blowing soap bubbles. I still like licking out the bowl. I still like the naiveté with which children see the world.  




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