I had friends staying recently and it was great fun. We stayed up late chatting, retelling old stories and sorting out the world. The following day we walked in the woods, kicking up piles of leaves, gazing at the sky through  branches, chasing each other along the narrow tracks and leaving messages with moss and sticks. We were like a bunch of kids.

Its really refreshing to get back to those pure feelings of excitement, wonder and sheer joy that we had when we were young. As adults we are often far too grown up. It’s not seemly to whoop with joy and leap about excitedly, to rush outside into the wind without a coat, to laugh and giggle sometimes for no reason. We spend too much time being responsible, sensible, organised and sometimes just plain boring.

So I say, in the face of life’s challenges, its time to rediscover the things that give you a child-like delight and simply enjoy the moments when you are doing them. Life is far too short to be sensible all the time. Loose a whole load of years for half an hour.

What made you squeal with joy when you were 7 and 8? What things caused you to lose track of time? What situations filled you with wonder? What excited you as a child? How can you do more of all of those?