Is it possible to be freer as a child than as an adult?

I remember that when I was little I always came home with my knees damaged from falling, always with a new wound, scab over scab, bruise over bruise.

Mom always scolded me, she said I had to be more careful, that in the end I would really hurt myself, but I didn't care, I just wanted to have fun.

But now I'm the one who's afraid, afraid of falling, of hurting myself, afraid that with a simple step forward I'll break into a thousand pieces.

I used to run, now I walk slowly, I used to be impulsive, now I look twice before crossing, I used to have fun without worries, now....

Am I fading away?