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Forum » Your inner child wants you to do one nice thing for yourself today. What is it?
Your inner child wants you to do one nice thing for yourself today. What is it?
marzipandreams — Dec 1, 2025, 10:30 AM
This is a low-pressure check-in. No guilt, no "should," no obligation. Just: your inner child — the version of you that existed before the world got heavy — wants you to do ONE nice thing today. It doesn't have to be productive. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone else. It just has to be kind.
Mine: I'm going to take a bath with a bath bomb that I've been "saving for a special occasion." It's Tuesday. Tuesday is the special occasion. My inner child wants sparkly blue water and I'm going to give it to her.
What about yours? What does the small version of you want today?
Replies (32)
softskymarin [admin] — Dec 3, 2025, 06:07 PM
"Tuesday is the special occasion" — I'm putting that on a sticky note on my mirror. 🌸
My inner child wants to watch the new Bluey episodes and she's going to get them, even though there's laundry to do.
raccoonking — Dec 4, 2025, 08:41 AM (edited)
My inner child wants to go to the park and swing on the swings. I'm 35 and I haven't been on a swing set in probably 20 years. But I drive past a park on my way home from work and every time I think "I should do that" and then don't. Tonight I'm doing it. Even if it's just for five minutes.
plushieprotector — Dec 4, 2025, 01:43 PM
My inner child wants me to put down my phone and play with Barnaby. Not just have him sitting on my bed while I scroll — actually PLAY. Make up little scenarios. Give him a voice. The thing I used to do naturally when I was small and haven't let myself do in years because it felt "silly." Tonight: silly is the goal.
jellycatjamie — Dec 4, 2025, 03:07 PM
my inner child wants chocolate milk and to watch cartoons in my pajamas. she's gonna get both.
overstimulatedowl — Dec 4, 2025, 06:19 PM (edited)
I read this and immediately thought "I don't know what my inner child wants." And then I sat with that for a minute and realized — that's the problem, isn't it? I've been ignoring her for so long I don't even know what she likes anymore.
So I think my nice thing is just... asking her. Sitting quietly for five minutes and seeing what comes up. Maybe she wants something specific. Maybe she just wants to be acknowledged. Either way, I'm going to try.
lilpawz — Dec 4, 2025, 09:38 PM
gonna buy myself a little treat at the store. not a big one. just a little one. maybe a candy bar or a new lip balm. the small version of me loved little treats.
tentativefern — Dec 5, 2025, 03:39 AM
My inner child wants a nap. Not a "I'm exhausted so I need to sleep" nap — a "I'm cozy and safe and I want to curl up with my stuffed cow and rest because resting feels nice" nap. I never let myself do that. But today I will.
seashelleyes — Dec 5, 2025, 10:09 AM
Mine wants me to color. I have a "cozy witchy" coloring book that I bought and haven't opened. Tonight's agenda: coloring book, soft blanket, ambient music, no guilt.
ghostedmyself — Dec 5, 2025, 10:10 AM (edited)
After my social media nuke, my inner child has been feeling really fragile and exposed. I think what she wants is just... privacy. Permission to exist without performing. So tonight I'm going to journal — physical paper, no screen — and just let her say whatever she needs to say without an audience.
crayoncryptid — Dec 5, 2025, 12:51 PM (edited)
my inner child wants me to wear my favorite hoodie and watch studio ghibli movies and not think about work for one single evening. i feel guilty even writing that because there's SO much i "should" be doing. but i'm going to try.
marzipandreams — Dec 5, 2025, 01:08 PM
@crayon_cryptid The guilt is the thing we're practicing setting down. You can pick it back up tomorrow if you want. Tonight, just the hoodie and the movie. 💛
neuronnoodle — Dec 5, 2025, 04:20 PM (edited)
I love how many of these responses are about permission. Nobody in this thread is saying "my inner child wants to be productive" or "my inner child wants to optimize my morning routine." It's all swings and LEGOs and chocolate milk and naps. The things we were told we'd outgrown. The things we still need, we just stopped allowing ourselves to have them.
My inner child wants a grilled cheese sandwich cut into triangles. That's it. That's the whole thing.
noodlearms — Dec 9, 2025, 05:54 AM
mine wants a popsicle. the kind in the plastic tube that you have to cut open with scissors. haven't had one since i was like 10. going to the corner store after work.
latebloomerlydia — Dec 9, 2025, 12:40 PM (edited)
I'm new here and this thread made me tear up a little. My inner child — well, I suppose she's been waiting quite a long time. I think she wants to go to the beach and look for seashells. I haven't done that since my children were small. They're grown now. But the beach is still there. I think I'll drive out on Saturday. 🌊
wonkypeach7186 — Feb 17, 2026, 03:58 PM (edited)
"Tuesday is the special occasion" — I'm putting that on a sticky note on my mirror. 🌸
My inner child wants to watch the new Bluey episodes and she's going to get them, even though there's laundry to do.
blushyjuice283 — Feb 18, 2026, 10:15 AM (edited)
my inner child wants chocolate milk and to watch cartoons in my pajamas. she's gonna get both.
softpeachgrove16706 — Feb 18, 2026, 02:03 PM (edited)
My inner child wants to build LEGOs. I have a unopened set I bought six months ago and told myself I'd "build it when I have time." I HAVE TIME. The time is tonight. My 8-year-old self and my 42-year-old self are going to sit on the floor and follow the instructions and nobody is going to tell us we're too old for this.
gentletulip12061 — Feb 18, 2026, 07:31 PM (edited)
gonna buy myself a little treat at the store. not a big one. just a little one. maybe a candy bar or a new lip balm. the small version of me loved little treats.
swirlysockburrow692 — Feb 18, 2026, 08:18 PM (edited)
I read this and immediately thought "I don't know what my inner child wants." And then I sat with that for a minute and realized — that's the problem, isn't it? I've been ignoring her for so long I don't even know what she likes anymore.
So I think my nice thing is just... asking her. Sitting quietly for five minutes and seeing what comes up. Maybe she wants something specific. Maybe she just wants to be acknowledged. Either way, I'm going to try.
cozynoodlemeadow681 — Feb 18, 2026, 08:19 PM
@overstimulated_owl This is so beautiful and honest. Sometimes the first nice thing is just turning toward yourself and saying "I'm listening." 💛
snackydaisypatch72485 — Feb 18, 2026, 08:49 PM (edited)
My inner child wants to go to the park and swing on the swings. I'm 35 and I haven't been on a swing set in probably 20 years. But I drive past a park on my way home from work and every time I think "I should do that" and then don't. Tonight I'm doing it. Even if it's just for five minutes.
swirlyseashellhill8793 — Feb 20, 2026, 10:08 AM (edited)
My inner child wants a nap. Not a "I'm exhausted so I need to sleep" nap — a "I'm cozy and safe and I want to curl up with my stuffed cow and rest because resting feels nice" nap. I never let myself do that. But today I will.
crunchynoodlehill73478 — Feb 23, 2026, 01:29 AM (edited)
I love how many of these responses are about permission. Nobody in this thread is saying "my inner child wants to be productive" or "my inner child wants to optimize my morning routine." It's all swings and LEGOs and chocolate milk and naps. The things we were told we'd outgrown. The things we still need, we just stopped allowing ourselves to have them.
My inner child wants a grilled cheese sandwich cut into triangles. That's it. That's the whole thing.
happyjuice160 — Mar 14, 2026, 10:29 PM (edited)
@crayon_cryptid The guilt is the thing we're practicing setting down. You can pick it back up tomorrow if you want. Tonight, just the hoodie and the movie. 💛
sneezycrayon5942 — Mar 21, 2026, 02:32 AM (edited)
After my social media nuke, my inner child has been feeling really fragile and exposed. I think what she wants is just... privacy. Permission to exist without performing. So tonight I'm going to journal — physical paper, no screen — and just let her say whatever she needs to say without an audience.
dreamytrout7081 — Mar 24, 2026, 09:36 PM (edited)
mine wants a popsicle. the kind in the plastic tube that you have to cut open with scissors. haven't had one since i was like 10. going to the corner store after work.
meltytulipcave41562 — Apr 5, 2026, 10:02 AM
i'm gonna take a bubble bath and use the "good" bath products. not the ones i'm "saving." the GOOD ones. today is the special occasion.
cozypuddlelair58826 — Jun 27, 2026, 01:30 AM
@latebloomer_lydia The beach is still there. Lydia, this is the most beautiful thing I've read all week. Please go find some seashells. Bring a little bucket. 💛
squishysparrow250 — Jul 6, 2026, 08:27 PM
@latebloomer_lydia Lydia, I'm genuinely emotional reading this. Yes. Go find seashells. The beach has been waiting for you.
glowyfern311 — Jul 11, 2026, 10:54 PM (edited)
Reading through everyone's responses and just feeling so... tender. We're all walking around with these small versions of ourselves inside us, asking for such simple things. And we've been saying "no" for years. Not anymore. Tonight I'm building LEGOs. @the_raccoon_king enjoy the swings. @noodle_arms eat that popsicle. Everyone: you deserve the nice thing.
gentlesparrow3646 — Jul 16, 2026, 08:32 PM
got my little treat. it was a cherry chapstick. my inner child is so happy she's basically glowing. this was a good thread.
wobblypeach08849 — Jul 26, 2026, 06:06 PM
The bath was incredible. The water turned sparkly blue and I stayed in until my fingers pruned. Thank you everyone for doing nice things for yourselves today. Let's do this again soon. 🫧
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