Silly is something I don’t think we value nearly enough. Somewhere along the way, as we grow up, it feels like we’re expected to leave it behind. Not even in old age or midlife — just adulthood in general. It’s as if there’s this unspoken rule that once you’re a “grown-up”, you’re meant to be sensible, composed… and, dare I say it, a little bit boring.
Well, I say bah humbug to that! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being silly. In fact, I think there’s something quite magical about it. That ability to let go for a moment, to not take yourself too seriously, to just have fun for the sake of it. It’s something we do so naturally as children, and then somehow, many of us lose it along the way.
Now, I’m not saying we should all be running around like we did when we were four (although, to be fair, that might be quite entertaining lol), but there’s something really special about holding onto that playful side of ourselves.
I never had children of my own, which I’ve spoken about before, but whenever I’ve been around friends’ children or grandchildren, I’ve always loved stepping into that world with them. While the other adults are often sitting chatting at the table, I’m usually the one who ends up getting up, dancing around, playing games, or just being downright silly. And do you know what? They love it.
There’s something about seeing an adult let their guard down and be playful that really makes children light up. The laughter, the giggles… it’s infectious. And honestly, it’s just as fun for me as it is for them.
But the thing is, silliness doesn’t have to be reserved for when children are around. Even now, I still find so much joy in those moments. Especially when I’m with my best friend — we can be incredibly silly together, and I love that about us. There’s no pressure to be anything other than exactly who we are in that moment. Because life is short.
And while there’s a time and place for being serious, for being responsible, for dealing with all the things life throws at us… there should also be space for playfulness. For laughter. For silliness, just for the sake of it. Because sometimes, that’s where the real magic is.
This is something I touch on in my book too — that idea of embracing who you are fully, including the playful, lighter parts of yourself that bring joy. If that resonates, you can find it on Amazon and if you google The Enchanted Midlife by Suzy Turner, you will also find it on numerous other online bookstores (it’s available as an ebook AND a paperback—and in Portuguese too!).
If you’re taking part in the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year, let me know in the comments so I can check out your posts. And if you’d like to catch up on the rest of mine, you can find some of them here: A is for Alchemy, B is for Becoming, C is for Cycles, D is for Disillusionment, E is for Energy, F is for Flaws, G is for Grumpy, H is for Hormones, I is for Intuition, J is for Joy, K is for Kindness, L is for Laughter, M is for Midlife, N is for Nourish, O is for Overthinking, P is for Purpose, Q is for Quiet, R is for Rubbish
