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Children appreciate all that is silly.
Their grasp of humor is instinctual, and even the smallest absurdities
provoke joyous gales of earnest laughter. As we age, this innate ability
to see the value of silliness can diminish. Work takes precedence over play,
and we have less incentive to exercise our imaginative minds by focusing
on what is humorous. When we remember childhood, we may recall the
pleasures of donning funny costumes, reciting nonsense poems, making up
strange games, or playing pretend. This unabashed silliness nourished our
vitality and creativity. We can take in this nourishment once again by
giving ourselves permission to lighten up and be silly.
Too often we reject the wonderful
silliness because we believe that it serves no purpose or is at odds with
the grown-up culture of maturity. We play, but we do not lose ourselves
in play. Our imaginations are never truly given free rein because we
regard the products of irrational creativity as being valueless. Yet
silliness itself does indeed constitute a vital part of human existence
on a myriad of levels. Our first taste of ethereal bliss is often a
consequence of our willingness to dabble in what we deem outrageous,
nonsensical, or absurd. We delight in ridiculousness not only because
laughter is intrinsically pleasurable but also because it serves as a
reminder that existence itself is fun. Skipping, doodling, and singing
funny songs are no less entertaining than they were when we were
children. We need not lose all interest in these cheerful and amusing
activities, but to make them a part of our lives, we must be ready to
sacrifice a little dignity and a lot of fear.
It is precisely because so much of life
is inescapably serious that silliness should be regarded as a priority.
Through the magic of imagination, you can be or become anything — a
photographer, a professional athlete, a dancer, a pilot. Whether you take
hundreds of silly pictures, revel in the adulation of your fans as you
make the winning catch, boogie down rock-star style in front of your
bedroom mirror, or turn your desk into a cockpit, the ensuing hilarity
will help you see that lighthearted fun and adulthood are not at all
incompatible.
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