I closed my last post with the self-admonition to “live from my innocence.” I was and am calling on the lightest, simplest, most joyful and curious part of me to be the shepherd of my development. It’s a recognition, and a hard one at that, that I often allow myself to think too much, be too intense and too serious. That I am prone to heaviness, a massive need for control and a debilitating inner voice that beats me up when I don’t think I’ve got it right or done enough.
Damn, I’m exhausted just writing about it. Actually living it is really no fun, either. So, I’m trying not to. But what does “live from my innocence” really mean? For today, I think it just means to laugh. And that I can do.
I love to laugh and I think I’m pretty good at it. I am silly. I like to dance silly dances and sing silly songs. As the youngest of six children in a pretty expressive and funny family, getting a laugh was a big deal. I learned how to do it early and often. I make people laugh by observing things out loud that others don’t or won’t. I get on the floor with the kids – we wrestle and tickle and give big squeezes, laughing until someone cries, or at least pushing the envelope.
I prefer comedy, especially lately. I love Tina Fey, Will Farrell, Robin Williams, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Conan O’Brien, Kristen Wiig, Demetri Martin, Jim Gaffigan and anyone else who risks being unfunny by just putting it out there and doing very, very funny things.
Mostly, I love Theresa, Kelly, Stephanie, Greg, Lia, Tim, Jeff, Curtis, Paul, Laura, Russ, Lisa, Duncan, Avery, Davis, Nancy, Jenn and the countless others with whom I’ve shared some big laughs over the years. (Let me recommend something to you that I just discovered: thinking of all the people who make/have made you laugh is a FANTASTIC exercise – I feel great right now!).
So, here’s an invitation: let’s laugh together sometime soon. Let’s agree to feel lighter, simpler, more joyful and more curious. Let’s look at life with a sideways glance and take in all the goofiness of it, not trying to make sense of it or control it, just appreciating how unbelievably funny so much of it really is.
