To Dodge or Not to Dodge the Mudpuddle

Perhaps I am immature, and perhaps I am just in touch with my inner-child. You know, that innocent, playful state of being that wants to run up to someone on the street, touch them on the shoulder and yell “Tag! Your it!”, then run away.

Many folks would frown on the immaturity of this state of being, and I can certainly appreciate how overdoing it could result in some bad decision-making. But why deny yourself moments of bliss, moments of joy? Can't a person over-do maturity as well?

In my last post, I suggested we all let go of the fears and just dance. This time I wanted to offer the argument that it is not only OK to dance like nobody is watching, but OK to be silly, and laugh, and play. Embrace life. Make a silly face at your kids across the dinner table when they least expect it.

I still remember my dad making these “Whoosh!” sounds and make this sudden full-body twist like he was about to take off from the kitchen like a rocket. He never did it when mom was looking, oh no. And my sister and I would plea my mother to turn her head at that exact moment; “Mom! He did it! Your missing it!”. Mom, wasn't left out of the joke for being too serious, or to mature to acknowledge dad was doing this silly thing, I realized some time later. In fact, Mom was playing along, in her fashion, letting us believe she just never happened to see it. And she would tell us, with absolute seriousness accompanying that twinkle in her eye, that dad was certainly was NOT “whooshing” his way around the kitchen. They might not have been Laurel and Hardy, but they understood how important it is to never let go of your inner child. They allowed themselves the opportunity to play.

So when you are moving along down your chosen path, and encounter an opportunity to play, why not take it? Why not jump in the mud-puddles of life? What harm is there? And think of the joy to be had, laughing, loving, and living the life blessed to us.