I was treating myself to a Chinese buffet the other day, because I had managed to make it through the holidays with my sanity intact. Any excuse will do. Any excuse at all.
I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between a mother and her son. He looked to be about fourteen, and he was talking about the kind of things that 14-year-olds talk about. Drama at school, I think.
The mother was trying to talk sense into the kid, and at one point she said, “Don’t be silly.”
My first thought was, “Ah, that’s how it all starts…”
It’s true. At some point in life most of us seem to lose our ability to be silly. We stop jumping on the bed, making snow angels, and having water fights while washing the family car. We start worrying more and more about what other people will think. We place too high a price on our own dignity and reputation. We stop playing.
I think this is tragic. How can one feed one’s spirit without clowning around? How many years do we trim off our lives by depriving ourselves of laughter and joy?
I suppose it’s better that that mother said, “Don’t be silly,” as opposed to “Don’t be an idiot,” but still… I hope she takes a little time to be silly with her son. Because it shouldn’t be such a dying art.
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The View from a Drawbridge 
…Still, it can be annoying if done too darn much or at the wrong time. A bit of sensitivity is needed–make that a lot. I was raised by someone who was at times in love with their own silliness, but other times failed to appreciate mine.
Well, silliness as a tool for irritation isn’t really silliness. It’s aggression. So yeah, I see your point.
I encourage my children’s silliness…makes them more entertaining. Laughing with them was and is easier than being angry with them, especially now they’re adults.
I only stopped jumping on the bed because I’d break a hip these days, but if we ever met I’d gladly lob some water balloons at you. 🙂
Challenge accepted! 🙂 But can we wait until the temperature is above freezing?
Well we could throw snowballs instead…
Oooh, I’ve been dying to get into a good snowball fight! Before I moved to Seattle, I hadn’t sen snow in 30 years!
Masters of the art of silliness who helped this country through dark times … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnOErx0H3I Could really use some of this now. Where’s Art when we need him?
Yes, he’s been strangely silent of late…
I noticed that. Hope he realizes his humor is missed. I love watching your verbal sparing.
I suspect it’s because I don’t comment on his blog nearly as often as he used to do on mine.
My personal motto!
I’m old enough that I can refuse to grow up and no one can make me! :-}
Oooh. I like that motto a lot.
Something to keep in mind as we go through the new year!
I suspect the world will need all the silliness it can get this year.