A few days ago while standing in line at my local deli I watched a young boy reach for a roll of lifesavers and ask an older man who appeared to be his grandfather, “Can I get these? They help me with my wild!“

His words, “my wild” grabbed me.

The older man noticing my fascination turned to me and asked, “What do you think? Will this help him with his wild?”

I had no idea what to say yet I loved the fact that the man assumed I could go with the flow of engaging in a conversation about “wild” even though we both knew his young companion’s use of a pronoun before “wild” unique and special.

Turning to the boy I asked, “What exactly, is your wild?”

“You know,” he explained “it’s when I play a lot and run around outside.”

Then in a softer lower voice he told me, “My mom says it’s when I get crazy.”

Who knows, maybe his mother was concerned her son was demonstrating early signs of the kind of hyperactivity that requires medication. I hoped not because although I know medicating for ADD or ADHD can save a child’s life, there was something wonderful about this young boy’s unencumbered self expression that felt “wild.” I didn’t want him to loose it. Sadly most of us do!

My own association with our “wild” is definitely that it is something we often can feel more easily outside in nature, yet it is also not exclusive to that setting.

No matter where we happen to be, being in our “wild” is about our feeling total freedom and delight because we know and trust we can be unencumbered in our self expression.

The rules we keep for ourselves on how to behave, think, or dress do not apply in this fantastic liberating state enabling us to let our hair down and stop feeling self consciousness or concerned about how we may appear to others.

In our “wild” we are always very happy because discontent is not possible given our “wild” is a state of being marked by utter self acceptance and being in total delight with who we are!

It is from this place that we can do (wild) things like; howl at the moon, dance free style in a room alone or with a crowd watching, make love with total abandon, or feel intoxicated by the smell of mud between our toes as we walk barefoot on the earth!

I know, being in your “wild” may seem not the most practical.

“Wild” at work, hmmm not sure if that would go over so well with the boss, staff, or clients. And “wild” at home with the family might freak em out!

Beyond practicality though is also the issue of finding ways to access our “wild” again.

Unless we make a conscious effort, it will not happen!

This may seem like a contradiction since being “wild” is all about letting go, the opposite of planning, or thinking about how and when.

I have a little “planning” assignment here for you to help you find Your Wild!

Close your eyes and allow yourself to imagine one “wild” way of being that would put a smile on your face that does not require anything logistically complicated. For purposes of this two part task sorry but no getting on a plane to South America so you can run naked in the Amazon forest. Or, joining the “wild” ranks of author Cheryl Strayed who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, a two thousand two hundred and sixty three mile walk between Mexico and Canada. (Of course these can be on your bucket list for sure!)

Instead, imagine simple “wild.” Like; dancing to loud awesome music, or making fabulous love to your partner! Try visualizing yourself sitting quietly on the earth and listening to the “wild” of the forest. Howling at the moon is always a good one!

Then, afterward notice how you feel having connected to even just this small part of your “wild.” Hopefully it felt good to imagine your return to this innate part of your being and it made you realize that being in your “wild” is no more than a short thought away.

My final task for you is a dare!
I dare you to later on today to go and be in that “wild” you just imagined.
AND: Be sure to really own it by saying these words out loud;
“I am wild, I am wild, I am wild!”

Lastly, please consider sharing about your “wild time” here.
I would LOVE to hear what you did and how it felt!

© Susanna Kearney & Creating Space for Women, Inc, 2014. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Susanna Kearney & Creating Space for Women with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Author's Bio: 

Susanna Kearney is a clinical psychotherapist, life coach, and ordained Interfaith Minister with decades of experience helping women to find self-fulfillment. She coaches women both professionally and personally through her company, Creating Space For Women. She's currently working on her first to-be-published book and living in Park Slope, Brooklyn with her husband and two teenaged sons.