There are so many people wandering around this world worried about what others might think if they do this or do that. They aren’t living fully because of this worry.
It breaks my heart to see people hold back on living in case it upsets another person. You know what I say to that? Screw that!
Here’s what I have learned that I really want you to know. First, anyone who is upset because you are happy and showing it has deeper problems than you can know. This is not your stuff. We all have enough grief in life and we really ought to take the happy times and live them fully and wildly.
Secondly, in my experience, most of the time, other people love to be around those who are able to let go and express joy. It’s almost as if seeing you do it, gives them permission to lighten up a little too.
For some reason it seems that we are addicted to doom and gloom. As if refusing to let the happy in and show it, we are preventing any other extremes from happening. Kind of like that old saying waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I have some news. Ignoring the joys of today will not prevent the sadness of tomorrow…it just wastes the gifts you have right now. If that proverbial shoe is going to drop it will drop anyway. You can deal with it if and/or when it happens.
There are times when we are sad, when restraint is needed but I think we have taken it way to far. My friends…my adult friends…get over yourself and your own egoand have some fun.
Go on and run through the sprinkler with or with out kids…still feels good on a hot day. Laugh out loud; stop trying to keep it quiet…let it out! Be a little silly, play with puppies, make a puppet show happen, toss the football around, sing along and loud with the radio and dance while you sweep the floor.
Take the gifts of laughter, joy and fun and let them reign; let the crappy days be the ones that are out of the norm…let them be the exceptions.
Laugh and smile because you can…and share your joyful spirit with others.
And, see a Disney movie, even without kids. Yesterday, my husband and I saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green. And earlier this year, Chimpanzee. In both cases, we were in the *very* small minority of adults unaccompanied by children. And the previews were filled with nothing but children’s movies, so clearly we were not the primary demographic. A couple of people looked at us a little strangely. Heck, even my husband thinks it’s strange! But I love Disney movies and I want to watch them in a nice theater; I’m not letting strange looks from total strangers ruin my fun!
Learning to let go and bothering less about what other will think might just do it. Once we set out to please others; we forget the most important thing in our lives – ourselves.
I think that letting go of living your life by what others think is something we have to learn and mature into. It’s natural to want to have others like you and stuff but at some point you realize you cannot please everyone anyway. Besides if everyone is worried about it, then no one is paying attention to what you are doing anyway! lol
Passion and purpose lead to joy. Just did an interview with Peter Taylor and his book Don’t Postpone Joy. Love how so much joy is around me today.
Wonderful Roberta! Joy is the point isn’t it?
Great advice, Bonnie. The time to be happy is now.
Absolutely…it’s a crying shame how often we waste precious life on trivial things that annoy us and how little we spend on the small things that bring us pleasure. We need to spin that right around on it’s head!
Actually, their biggest problem is not their worry- but it’s their incorrect belief that they are defined by others and must meet their expectations- rather than one’s own.
Now you’re talking my language Roy. Our belief system really messes us up when we live through it mindlessly. We need to constantly check in with our higher self and decide what is really the truth. Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂