I do not wear a helmet; I do not have a shield. I do not carry a weapon; I am the weapon, though few recognize me as such. To some, I am an inconvienence or a waste of time. To others, I am naive or a childish impulse. For many, I come with an expiration date, valid only for a short ten years. If used beyond the allotted time, the patience of others begins to wear thin and phrases like, “Aren’t you too old for that?” or “It’s time to grow up” plant seeds of self-consciousness in those I protect.

I am the burst of spontaneity that makes you run like a mad hyena through the house. I am the unprovoked sense of joy that makes you laugh like a banshee for no reason until others inexplicably join in. I am the wild creativity that sees white walls as an open invitation to paint. I am imagination untamed by cultural convention and delight in making mud pies; I fully expect you to taste my creation, and am baffled when others fail to see it for the masterpiece it is. I am the endless curiosity that provokes nine million questions just before bedtime. I am the limitless possibility that sees the floor as red hot lava, stuffed animals as “students”, or a flight on your feet as a launch into outer space. I am the inspiration behind Buzz Lightyear and Disney princesses. Depending on the one I protect, I may illicit dangerous adventures like climbing trees or dress-up tea parties with all invited. I am behind every snowball fight, every game of Tag, every playground Hopscotch.

I fight loneliness by giving imaginary friends a voice. I ward off despair by supporting a belief in the impossible. A few moments spent with me will dry tears and ease anxiety. A plastic, gold crown upon a head can inspire confidence that doesn’t exist “in the real world.” Transforming glitter into “pixie dust” or bedsheets and sofa coushions into “forts” reimagines a confusing, scary and complicated world into one where awe and wonder reign. I fight against “ordinary”, protecting the “extraordinary” in everything mundane. Adults see a weed but, to those I am charged to protect, dandelion fluff are wishes. I protect the vibrancy of the world through pretend. I stand guard against fear by motivating the ones I protect into becoming the hero of the story.

I am the warrior. I protect against timelines, schedules or obligations by nurturing a sense of belonging and freedom. To be most effective, I require patience and an acknowledgement that there might be more to the world than meets the eye. It might be crucial for my charge to take five extra minutes completing his LEGO creation – if he is granted that time, I can add a layer of self-worth to his armor. Wearing the mismatched outfit to school might be key to feeling bold and empowered.

I am the warrior; I am a powerful tool in creating joy and a sense of belonging.

I am the warrior; I can help make sense of pain. I am the warrior; I can be the medicine necessary to finding laughter.

I am the warrior; I fight against the idea that the goal of life is to grow-up. Instead, I teach that the goal of life is joy.

I am the warrior; I fight to provide a sense of freedom for those I protect. I am a warrior who provides independence; I am the waymaker who discovers the path forward through the lava. I am the warrior; engaging with me supports language development, literally providing a voice to those I serve.

I am the warrior; fight for core memories whose ingredients are imagination and laughter, and whose flavor is hope.

What might look like a game of hide-and-seek is me, the warrior. What looks like a game of School or House is me, the warrior. It’s a fight to preserve innocence by making sense of a world that’s too big. What might look like a senseless waste of time dancing in the pouring down rain might be me, fighting to instill a sense of freedom through a storm. The toy that might look like a waste of money just might be a tool in my arsenal that could help develop a foundational sense of confidence. The way the world looks to those who no longer seek my protection and those who rely on it is often very different. Just because you cannot see something doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

And, by the way….

Warriors never stop standing guard. Even when their charges stop looking for them. You may see flashes of me when you schedule time on the boat, or the golf course, or the ski slope. Unexpectedly, you may find your memory jogged on April Fool’s Day. Tossing a frisbee to your dog, or competing in a game of tug o’ war with him might be me in disguise. If you catch yourself indulging in a frivolous activity that nonetheless makes your heart just a shade lighter, I might have been close. As you age, and guard yourself against vulnerability, I fight harder for your innocence and to maintain your hope in the world; I have to be more strategic, sneaking in on you when you least expect it, interrupting your daily chore list every chance I get. I am the warrior, challenging you to chase the dream that seems ridiculous, to spend the time you don’t have wading in icy creeks or flying kites in the park, and to imagine a day in which the only thing you heard was yes.

Because I am the warrior, and warriors believe.