Kids have to be the most innocent and honest people in the world. If you just sit and observe them on a daily basis, there is so much you can learn from them. Things that appear obvious we should know and also in hindsight but don’t for various reasons.

Since my daughter came along, I must say that there are some lessons that’s she’s constantly refreshing me on. Having a kid forces you to see things from all kinds of various perspectives, but I must say they’re normally is a positive light. Over this first year, there have been so many lessons…

1. Patience is definitely a virtue; so never give up!

It doesn’t matter what my daughter is trying to achieve, she never gives up. Whether it’s trying to walk or master some other new skill, her toddler independence just won’t let her stop until she finds a way to get things done. She’s so persistent in trying to achieve things that it reminds me that once I’m consistent in whatever I’m after, eventually over time I will succeed or at least figure out what it takes to succeed.

2. Let things roll off your back.

I don’t know at which point life became so serious, but a toddler has absolutely no worries. She can be crying one minute and the next it was as if nothing ever happened. Sometimes I find that I can hold onto things much longer than I need to and it’s in these moments of watching her that I remember it’s good to let things go so you can truly be free… especially if it’s not something that will add value.

3. Don’t worry, be happy.

All moments are happy moments for my toddler (well except for the inevitable intermittent toddler tantrums). She reminds me that I should be grateful for everything, because realistically regardless of what’s going on in your life, there are some who are in a worst off place than you!

4. Forget about the things that cause you pain.

After falling down and crying for a few seconds, it’s as if nothing ever happened! (Well unless there’s some serious bruising or injury that occurred.) This has to be an innate skill that only toddlers have because as an adult, I find that I have a challenge with letting things go. I can find a way to rehash just about anything, anyway, anytime possible… I guess this part of me is still a work in progress, but it’s definitely something to continue to aspire to. With my daughter’s constant reminders, I think eventually I’ll get there.

5. Things don’t always go as planned, so just go with the flow.

I will admit this doesn’t always seem like the best option upfront, however it is important that we are able to adjust and recalibrate ourselves when we experience setbacks. Whether it’s big or small, we should be willing to make the necessary changes to get back on track where we need to be and sometimes this could mean that we have to release our control just for a little bit to allow things to realign. Most often than not, with some level of intention, things always end up working out the way they should.