"Les adultes bougent parce que leur volonté les dirige. Le petit enfant est poussé par la force vitale qui s'exprime spontanément à travers lui."

The main idea here is that adults often act based on their conscious decisions and willpower, while young children are driven more by an innate, natural energy that propels them into action without much deliberation.

Think of it like this: as an adult, you might decide to go for a run because you want to stay fit or because you told yourself you should be more active. There's a layer of intention and purpose behind your actions. But a toddler doesn't need to plan their day or convince themselves to move. They just do—running, jumping, exploring—because there’s a built-in zest for life that just bursts out of them.

This idea was notably brought to light by Maria Montessori, an early 20th-century educator and physician, who observed how children learn and grow. She noticed that kids have a natural inclination toward discovery and movement, and this spontaneous activity is crucial for their development.

Imagine you’re at a park. You see a young child darting from one playground structure to the next, climbing up a slide instead of sliding down it, collecting sticks and leaves with a sort of gleeful purpose. They’re not doing it because they’ve read a book on the benefits of physical activity or because they’ve set a goal to climb five times a week—they’re just following that inner drive.

For adults, the challenge is in reconnecting with that spontaneity. To apply this wisdom, try to tap into activities that make you feel alive. Think less about the "shoulds" and "musts" and more about what genuinely excites or interests you. If you’ve always wanted to paint, grab some brushes and just start—don’t worry about making a masterpiece. If dancing makes you feel good, put on your favorite song and dance like no one's watching, even if it’s just in your living room.

Here’s a relatable scenario: imagine you’ve had a long day at work. You get home, and the couch is calling your name, but you also know you’ve got that treadmill collecting dust in the corner. Now, you could force yourself onto it with sheer willpower, thinking about the gym membership you’re wasting. Or, you could remember the spontaneous joy you had as a kid when you just moved because it felt good. So, instead of the treadmill, you throw on some sneakers, head to the park, and just start walking. Maybe you break into a run, or maybe you end up swinging on the swings. Either way, you're moving, not out of a sense of duty, but from a place of genuine enjoyment.

In short, by observing the natural spontaneity in children, we can learn to infuse our own lives with a bit more of that unplanned, joyful energy. It's about finding a balance between the necessity of willful action and the beauty of letting life’s intrinsic energy guide us.