The Importance of Being Silly
This is a guest post by Nadia Ballas-Ruta of Happy Lotus.
We all, at one time or another, have pretended to be a rock star, singing and dancing along to our favorite song. Most of us have done this in the privacy of our own room when we were kids and as adults, in the privacy of our homes. Me? I love to do that when I drive! I turn on the radio, find a song that I can sing along too and pretty soon my arms are in the air and I am moving along to the rhythm. Most of the time, I do this on my way to work.
Yes, that is true. I will be in my nice work clothes, jamming while driving or stopped at a traffic light. I get weird looks from some people and others laugh. Personally, I love to get lost in the rhythm of a song which leads me to share with you the importance of being silly!
The definition for the word silly, according to the dictionary is: stupid, foolish and nonsensical. I know many people do not want to look foolish. So they walk around all serious, which in all honesty, is foolish!
No one is perfect, I repeat: no one is perfect. I don’t care how educated, how thin, how beautiful, how simple, how frugal, how rich, and so on… No one is perfect! So why pretend to be something you are not?
Life is so short… You never know when this beautiful journey will be over, so why waste a single second on being so full of rigidity? Here is a quote by Souza, that I think says it all and is a great recipe for life:
“Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth.”
When we were kids, we had no idea of what limitations were and we had no care in the world so we could do things without worrying about how we appeared to others. However, as we grew up, we lost that childlike innocence.
So don’t lose the child that still lives within you. The next time you feel down, go turn on your favorite song, and sing and dance along like there is no tomorrow. Or watch something that makes you laugh. Laughter is the best medicine to whatever ails you and nothing is better than laughing so hard that your tummy hurts. Trust me, you will feel a whole lot better, and who doesn’t want to feel good?
So what do you do to feel good? Any silly confessions for Nadia?
photo credit: erin MC hammer
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This post has 34 comments
March 23rd, 2009
Nadia,
Great post! I think we all need to lighten up and try to see things from a less serious perspective.
I sing in the shower and I have a pretty bad voice. I love it!
Roger – A Content Lifes last blog post..10 Ways to Avoid Exercise Injury
March 23rd, 2009
Thanks for the quote by Souza. It is a great recipe for life. Now I just have to keep it at the forefront of my mind and implement it.
March 23rd, 2009
I have a cute, little, teddy bear with very long legs whose name is Joshua. I give him a sort of smart-ass personality but with a cute voice. It always makes everyone laugh, including me! : )
Shanel Yangs last blog post..Facing My Fear of Failure
March 23rd, 2009
Great advice. I’m not so keen on you not keeping your arms on the wheel though.
March 23rd, 2009
First of all, many thanks to Sara for letting me guest post.
@Roger – I am happy that you liked the post. Singing in the shower is fun. I think everyone sounds better in the shower.
@Mark – I am with you on the Souza quote. It is a great recipe for life but like you said, the key is to remember it. Some days it is easier and other days it is hard. But at least we try!
@Shanel – There is something about stuffed animals that brings out the kid in all of us. Thank you so much for sharing that…laughter is the best medicine!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Importance of Being Silly
March 23rd, 2009
Remember how you used to dress as a child? The more color and sparkle, the better — it didn’t matter if the colors clashed, or if you looked “ridiculous” to grown-up eyes. You’d happily go to the grocery store with your fairy wings on, in your princess dress and sneakers. LOL Cool!
Reginas last blog post..Michelle Obama — Black Woman digs White House garden
March 23rd, 2009
My being silly keeps my kids (and sometimes even my wife) on their toes.
Michaels last blog post..The Physics of Love
March 23rd, 2009
@ Chris – You made me laugh. No worries…I am a safe driver!
@ Regina – That is so true. When we were kids, we didn’t care how we looked. I recently saw a little girl walking around with fairy wings and a wand. Seeing that wand made me wish I had one and all the things I would do with it!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Importance of Being Silly
March 23rd, 2009
I’m a fan of nonsense and I periodically give my inner child free reign.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Life Frame
March 23rd, 2009
@ J.D. Meier – Good for you. I love the term “inner child”. We all have one don’t we?
Thanks again to everyone for the positive feedback. You made my day!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Importance of Being Silly
March 23rd, 2009
Nadia — great post! My fiance and I have found that if we’re feeling tense, being silly helps us relieve some anxiety. For example, we rough-house and tickle each other, and do silly little dances. It brings us back to ourselves in a moment and gives us an outlet to get rid of the anxiety.
SavvyChristines last blog post..How to Have an Eco-Wedding
March 23rd, 2009
@ Savvy Christine – I am so glad you liked the post and that you and your fiance have a shared love of being silly. That is awesome!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Importance of Being Silly
March 23rd, 2009
It seems that as I get older and wiser, I get sillier.
Silliness is a virtue, IMO.
David Cains last blog post..Protect Your Dreams From Contamination
March 23rd, 2009
When I’m *very* excited about something, I go into my room and jump on my bed a lot.. What makes it funny is that I’m 24 and I do that when I’m by myself!
But it’s sort of like a secret, my friends and family don’t know about this
March 23rd, 2009
Totally agree for two reasons -
1. It’s being silly with my daughters that keeps me sane.
2. I never would have made it three years in the Army without being silly.
Great post!
Christophers last blog post..The Key to Happiness…But You Won’t Believe It
March 23rd, 2009
I love dancing! It’s fun to be silly
Sagans last blog post..Life Lessons: Toxicity Levels
March 23rd, 2009
I do silly things all the time just for a good laugh. It is important to stay loose and don’t take myself too seriously. I never want to loss the silly side of me, I believe that is how we can all stay young at heart.
Thank you,
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Giovanna Garcias last blog post..What ever happen to commitment?
March 24th, 2009
Just beautiful !
inams last blog post..New Chrome Beta Polished For Speed
March 24th, 2009
I realise reading this that I have a bit of a hang-up about being silly. The only time I really give myself permission is with my 5 year old. She helps me connect with that inner child very well. Making funny faces, playing our own games while walking down the street.
One of our favourites is that she pretends to be a beggar and stands outside the local shop with her hand out and I get ‘pretend-outraged’ and shoo her away. I assume passer-bys think I’m a TERRIBLE father. Hmmm but then no-one’s perfect are they?
Or maybe we are ALL perfect! Just the way we are.
Ian Peateys last blog post..You don’t have to do anything
March 24th, 2009
@ David – Being silly is a virtue I can handle but patience is another story!
@ Aisha – Jumping on the bed is good one too. I love doing that!
@ Christopher – I am so glad that you liked the post. I think it is easier to be silly with kids…they are like that naturally so we just adapt!
@ Sagan – Dance on!
Thanks again to everyone for the great comments and to Sara for letting me guest post.
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 24th, 2009
@ Michael – I just saw your comment! I am not surprised that you keep your family on their toes by being silly. You always make me laugh so I can only imagine what it is like at your house!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 24th, 2009
One of the wonderful things about getting older is caring less what other people think…kind of a return to a childhood mentality…and silliness fits right in.
My silliest times are playing with my friend’s dogs. It’s amazing what they bring out of me! (and in public…)
Thanks for the fun post.
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..Thoughts of Happiness
March 24th, 2009
@ Laurie-You are right about how you become more at peace as you get older. I have noticed it too.
@ Giovanna – I agree. You are as young as you feel.
@Inam – Thank you!
@Ian – We are perfect as we are…the problem is we don’t see it.
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 24th, 2009
“A man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks” is a well known saying…
But I go by the variation, which says:
“A Woman is as old as she looks, and a man is as young as the woman he feels”
I’ve been married to my First Wife for 37 years.
So how silly is that?
Kevin Phoenixs last blog post..Personal Financial Rescue Plan
March 24th, 2009
Thanks for this post. I think being willing to look foolish to somebody else is key to actually connecting with people. I know that, for me, if I’m concerned about looking silly I’m going to give people a whitewashed version of who I am, and the conversation isn’t going to be enjoyable.
March 24th, 2009
@ Chris – You are absolutely right. I always find it funny when people act as if they never had any problems or challenges in their life. Whenever I talk to someone who acts all perfect, I feel like I am not talking to a person but to a robot and there is no fun in talking to a robot!
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 24th, 2009
Never was silly as a kid. It’s one of the consequences of being an Asperger. Wasn’t diagnosed until I was in my 40’s.
March 24th, 2009
@ Kevin – There is nothing silly about that at all. It is totally awesome. Good for you!
Nadia – Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 24th, 2009
@ Jrandom42 – One of my friends has Asperger’s. I know it can be challenging. Thank you for sharing!
Nadia – Happy Lotuss last blog post..The Second Step To Happiness
March 25th, 2009
Thats a beautiful article. I just enjoyed reading. And I just want to say this thing that I am with you. Even I do the same things, who cares what others think. I am happy and I enjoying singing while driving. Life seems to be so beautiful when we sing.
March 27th, 2009
I love this post! Growing up I was the silly one hands down, but school, work and bills seriously grounded me.It wasn’t until one of my older children told me one day “Mom, you’re not as much fun as you used to be,” that I realized I had traded my silliness for stress and worry. Now I make a point to be silly with the kids, for their sake and mine.
Kristina Summerss last blog post..My own personal musical soundtrack
March 27th, 2009
Hi Kristina,
I am happy that you loved this post. It is far better to be silly than to be stressed and worried. BTW, I checked out your blog and I love the whole music focus. A couple of days ago, I finished working on a post about how each of us has our own theme song. I will publish it on Monday. I hope you will check it out. It would be great to have your input.
Nadia-Happy Lotuss last blog post..Don’t Mess With Mother Nature
March 29th, 2009
I have a tiara (bought on eBay) and a superhero cape (I made that) which I wear around the house and to school once in a while when I’m picking up my kids. I get a lot of odd looks, but more laughs. Totally worth it.
October 11th, 2009
I am an activity director in an assisted living center. I very often have theme days where I wear silly costumes and I dress up the residents. I am know for doing very silly things and this is exactly why. Being silly promotes giggling and young feelings.When u do youthful things that makes u giggle, u feel silly and young, when u feel young, you become young and so does everyone else around you.Its a win win situation
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