“The Year of Child-like Fun”
“When fun gets deep enough, it can heal the world.”―
Last year I mentioned that it was to be my year of “Yes”. I explained that I no longer subscribe to the
concept of New Year’s resolutions. I don’t
like the idea that we embark on what seem to be a self-defeating, self-flagellating
journeys that imply we have been doing something wrong which need fixing. These punitive promises we make ourselves
start off with good intention but often begin to drag and fill us with dread
and I just feel they begin to rule with the whip rather than with the
carrot. I prefer to give myself a gift
each year. This year I give myself the
gift of more fun – specifically the gift of returning to more child-like fun.
I had considered giving myself the gift of more time
smelling the roses, but child-like fun has won-out. Work played a part in this for me as it often
does. I have talked before about giving
gifts to other people or using methods at work or in groups. I can tell you I see results with other
people and I started to think, “Why don’t I let myself enjoy these things as
well”?
Last year, my niece was off to college. She is driven and works extremely hard. She studies engineering and puts a lot of
pressure on herself, which in turn gives her some anxiety. It can be crushing at times. I was thinking of ways she could relieve that
anxiety at exam time and sent her off to college with a hat. It is a bunny hat that has floppy ears you
can control by squeezing the flaps – you literally can’t take yourself
seriously when you are wearing it. I
told her to take breaks and wear the hat when she got too stressed. She did and still does and talks about how
she and her roommates laugh every time. (https://www.amazon.com/IronBuddy-Rabbit-Moving-Jumping-Winter/dp/B07GDCFG34/ref=sr_1_16?crid=6E4JCE9YHCFZ&keywords=floppy+chicken+hat&qid=1674295553&sprefix=floppy+chicken+hat%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-16).
For both my chronic pain group and my women’s
empowerment group, we take art therapy breaks from regular therapy every few
months. We did shrink dinks twice and
then I sent them adult coloring book pages and finally we spent a session
working on rainbow scratch off booklets.
The joy on these people’s faces as they relax into coloring and creating
is priceless. There are always some
revelations during these sessions but there is also much-needed laughter and a
lot of “ooh look what so and so just drew!” and “can I see yours”? “Hold yours up to the camera”! and “when are
we doing this again”? These people with debilitating
depression and chronic pain become kids again and engage in things that brought
them joy as children and it is magic. (https://www.amazon.com/Shrinky-Dinks-Creative-Activity-Multi-Color/dp/B08HHF82MM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ZZGNDA11TNQB&keywords=shrinky+dinks+kits+for+kids&qid=1674297464&sprefix=shrinky+%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-6).
As I was shopping for stocking stuffers this past
Christmas I came across a gem – the slingshot rubber chickens that are
pictured. I originally bought them for a
friend’s son who is about 10. I have
since gone back and re-ordered them 4 times.
Yes 4. I ended up ordering enough
for everyone’s stockings and then for friends and then for Tony to take to his
school so he could give them to some of the kindergarten teachers he works
with. I can’t tell you how much laughter
has been had with these rubber chickens.
My very favorite scene from Christmas was watching my 84-year-old
ex-father-in-law load one up on his finger and launch it across his living room
giggling. I mean it really doesn’t get
any better than that. It is my firm
belief that everyone should have a stock of slingshot rubber chickens AT ALL
TIMES. (https://www.amazon.com/Sumind-Slingshot-Flingers-Stretchy-Chickens/dp/B07MB9XW4N/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3QS5TUTMPSG3P&keywords=slingshot%2Brubber%2Bchicken&qid=1674296445&sprefix=slingshot%2Brubber%2B%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-6&th=1).
Last year was the year of YES and I said yeas to a lot
of healthy things. I said yes to karate
and I am a purple belt. I am slow at it
and I could be further along in the belt system but I am still going. I got certified as an instructor for the 3-5
year olds and now I get the joy of teaching little ones karate each Saturday. I
said yes to a relationship and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I did. Tony makes me feel seen and heard and is
lovely and smart and funny and kind. We
say yes to things together and have fun and I can’t wait to see what we do
next. I said yes to working on a grant
project and yes to working full time at my job.
I said yes to these things and more and I am so much better off today.
This year I want to have simple fun. I want to laugh more and enjoy child-like
things. I want to go to the zoo and feed
the giraffes. I want to pet dogs and
giggle often. I plan to get together
with a group of local girlfriends and have a craft day where we do the arts and
crafts we used to do when we were kids just because we can. I want to eat dessert first and have
breakfast for dinner. I want to color
and sing and dance in the rain.
When we were kids we did these things and we did them
with abandon. We had simple fun and we
didn’t complicate it. That is the kind
of fun I want to engage in this year. I
hope you will consider doing the same.
But watch out because I may hit you with a small rubber chicken!
