Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

We hear story after story of the extraordinary dreams which came true and flourished. Not too many stories get passed along, though. Not that great stories can't pass down from generation to generation, most of them can, but they never stick inside our heads as we get old.

Think Mary Poppins, a classic and evergreen story. We all remember the two cheerful children, Michael and his sister Jane. Who won't? Their names bring to mind supercalifragilisticexpialidocious flying adventure with a magical nanny and a chimney sweep. They were jolly. Well, up to a point.

That's what I found out when I brought my daughter to watch the sequel movie Mary Poppins Returns this morning. The two of them had grown up, and were preoccupied by all those no-nonsense adult business, from plumbing leaks to the bank loan. We all sensed how their appearances had changed. In which all their humor had been handed in and vanished.

Under the watchful eye of the Great Slump, Michael and Jane exchanged surprised looks when they heard the mantra "Everything is possible - even the impossible." They could no longer believe in that.

But they were wrong.

In the same way we needed to grow up when we were children, now that we are adults we need to grow down. If growing up means getting mature, growing down is about learning again to become more open, curious and creative.