Be true to you, darling

   In a black and white world, shadowed by responsibilities and tasks we perceive as boring, it’s hard to allow our authentic self and/or our fun expressions to seep through. Suppressing our authentic selves and the personalities we had exercised and developed for the better portion of our lives, has sadly become a frequent result of: the coming of age, obtaining a new job, or discovering a new circle of friends.

        As I walk through the financial district of my city, I notice a zombie culture. I take different train times to mix it up, but when I find myself taking the train on Monday at 8:30 am two weeks consecutively, I observe the same people. I take the train on Tuesday, consecutively for 4 weeks at 10:00 am, and again, can discern the same people. I wonder, if there is ever any incorporation of “fun” or a scapegoat for a fun release? Are these same individuals simply just going through the same old routine they’ve subconsciously or consciously adapted to?

      Unfortunately, for many, confining oneself to an almost mindless routine has fully eliminated fun expression. And suddenly, after years of the exact routine, the authentic selves, FUN personalities becomes nothing but a repressed memory, a memory, only occasionally revisited.

     At work and school, think about all the presentations/lectures you’ve been to. From personal experience I can say, that the most notable presentations, are those I’ve walked out from with profound impact, were those that contained humour and/or a conclusion that had resonated with me fervently. Similarly, in order for me to remain fully and consciously mindful of a presentation or lecture, there needs to be some incorporation of humour and fun. There is even psychological study that determined, “laughing leads to learning” ; reading that appropriate humour can unlock multiple different intelligences in our brain whilst allowing us to retain information better. Click here to read more

That’s just the answer though. Laugh. Find time for it. Don’t be afraid to make a joke or incorporate your own humour. If they don’t get your humour, then who cares? Just be mindful of the appropriate times to bring in the humour.

In the midst of a busy school or work environment, no one is going to remember a joke you once told. Don’t suppress who you are, eventually you will find someone who shares the same humour as you. Furthermore, if new people you surround yourself with, aren’t accepting of your authentic self, then perhaps they are not people you should be hanging with or you should restrict your time with them, (if being around them is absolutely necessary).

Re-building your fun expressive selves doesn’t have to be a lone journey. You can help bring your workplaces, friendship circles, or school clubs to a place much more expressing of fun.

1. Take the next work team activity to a comedy club or to a picnic in the park
2. Get out of the offices/school buildings to talk about other things aside from work and school- a new coffee shop, anywhere by a lake or outdoors, any activity that will require movement, such as squash, yoga, skating, or simply throwing a ball around outside (if the weather permits)

Image found on Pinterest

The last little bit of advice I can offer, in order to help move your perhaps “dull” routines, into ones more accepting of playful inspiration, is simply to be mindful.

As you walk through your routines, not everything is entirely the same. There are different people who will join the walk to the office, the weather may be different, a new store may have opened. Be mindful of the things that surround you.

Also try not to forget:

"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle."  

- Thich Nhat Hanh

We aim to bring you more fun and authentic expression to keep play in your life. Be sure to check to check our "Who I want to be, t-shirt", to help us remember to never like propriety dictate our lives.

Our Who I Want to Be tshirt was also mentioned on Movie Hustle's website, and recommended in their gift guide, check their post here!

With Love,

Tiffany | The Scoria World Team