Monday, April 14, 2008

The Childlike Sense of Wonder

No doubt you've already seen or heard about Randy Pausch and his now famous, 'Last Lecture'. With so much coverage about this topic, you may ask why we're "piling on". First off, this is the type of message that simply can't be heard too much or too often. In our society where virtually all media coverage is dominated by war and politics and violence, a story about courage in the face of tragedy is not only refreshing, but necessary. Second, Randy speaks at length about nurturing a "childlike sense of wonder" which of course is at the very heart of why Fat Brain Toys exists. We often preach that what we sell are not JUST toys - rather they are the tools of childhood - encouraging imagination, exploration, self-expression, and interaction. But in Randy's words, "did you catch the head fake?". Toys are not just for kids! In fact, a strong argument could be made that adults need toys much more so than kids. When we begin losing that "childlike sense of wonder", we are losing one of our most valuable assets - our ability to use our imagination, our willingness to push the limits of the envelope, our inclination to take time to stop and smell the proverbial roses. So challenge yourself today, and EVERYDAY, to stoke the fire of wonderment in yourself and in those around you...and maybe you too will live life with the same zest of Randy Pausch.