"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

Picasso certainly had it right. I taught a little art camp this week, and these children certainly were artists. That quote was on the back of the camp t-shirts (because it's definitely not a camp if you don't get a shirt!) and it got me thinking. These children are producing pieces that are...well...interesting, and, yet, they could not be prouder of what they have created. They race to show their mothers their art at the end of each day and loudly question where this masterpiece will be displayed in their homes. Children look at their art, and themselves, with pride, love, and joy.

My question is, when does this change?

When I am creating something, all I can see are the flaws. I am never satisfied with anything that I do, and I think that this is true of many adults. Why? How do we go from being children who love ourselves to adults who find fault with everything that we do?

As children we KNOW that we can be whatever we want to be, achieve whatever we want to achieve. Ask a class of first graders what they're going to be when they grow up, half of them will tell you that they're going to be President. Ask a class of high school seniors that same question and I'll bet not a single one still has that goal. At some point we decide that those lofty goals we set as children are no longer attainable. We're not smart enough to apply to that college, not pretty enough to date that guy, not experienced enough to get that job.

As I watched the children beam over their paintings this week, I made a decision. I need to look at myself through the eyes of my six year old self. Those are not the eyes of someone looking to criticize, but of someone who loves, someone who is proud, someone who can achieve anything.

I'm not sure who that person is who has told us that we can't, but I'm here to tell you that we can. So the next time someone asks you about your five year plan? Tell them you're going to be President.