Thanks to my one year-old boy, I now have a Bachelor’s degree in baby songs, and am probably on my way to attaining a Master’s. Having to sing him to sleep on some nights for up to one and a half hours, there’s no better time to meditate on the verses of these ditties in detail. Let’s see if I can glean any nuggets of wisdom from all that bedtime serenading.

Creativity

The Alphabet Song
“A B C D E F G,
H I J K L-M-N-O-P,
Q R S… T U V,
W, X, Y and Z.
Now I know my ABC!
Won’t you sing along with me?”

Life is full of boring tasks, like memorising the alphabet. Find rhythm and rhyme in the most menial of chores, and you would have found a way to do it better. Being creative has never been about making something new. It is about doing the same thing in a new and easier way.

Self Worth

Baa Baa Black Sheep
“Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes Sir, Yes Sir, three bags full –
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.”

No matter how much of a misfit or outcast you think you are, there are people out there who are looking for the very thing you are a natural at. Find them. Never look down on yourself.

Being Authentic

Mary Had A Little Lamb

“Mary had a little-lamb(x3)
  Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.
It followed her to school-one-day(x3)
  It followed her to school one day, that was against the rules.
It made the children laugh-and-play(x3)
  It made the children laugh and play to see the lamb at school.”

Be yourself, even if it means breaking the rules, because that is the only way you can bring true joy to yourself and those around you.

Taking Risks

Humpty-Dumpty
“Humpty-Dumpty sat on the wall.
Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.”

Before you take a risk, make sure it’s worth it, because the consequences could be grave and irreversible.

Prevention

Five Little Monkeys
“Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
‘No more monkeys jumping on the bed!’”

Prevention is still the best form of cure.

Control

Five Little Ducks
“Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away.
Mother Duck said, ‘Quack-quack-quack-quack’
But only four little ducks came back.” (and so on…)

Control is an illusion. Even the tightest grip cannot ensure that everything will go according to plan, especially when it comes to managing people. Some will listen, others will not. The only true control you have, is over your choice of whether to keep on quacking.

Contentment

Row, Row, Row Your Boat
“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream!”

Each of us is but a small boat on the river of time, our lives as fleeting as a dream. Life is too short to squander on negativity. Be gentle with yourself. Strive for happiness.

Perseverance

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
“Itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the Sun and dried up all the rain.
Itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”

In each life some rain must fall. If you ever feel flushed out by the currents of fate, just be ready to move when the Sun does shine for you again. Don’t give up.

Inspiration & Hope

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
“Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.”

Whenever you feel jaded with life, try to remember that sense of wonder you had as a little kid. We look at the stars not because we know what they are, but because they spark our imagination. The world abounds with marvels and miracles – all it takes is the right perspective. Take nothing for granted, and each day becomes an opportunity to see something in a new light. Many survive. Be one of the few who live.

“When the blazing Sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon.
Then you show your little light, twinkle twinkle all the night.
Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.”

Just because something cannot be seen doesn’t mean it’s not there. When things seem darkest, that is when the qualities hidden within us – like courage, integrity and hope – shine the brightest.

Wishing you a fruitful 2016 filled with love, laughter, and bold adventure!