by Lori Milner
I was swimming with my kids yesterday and my 4-year-old daughter innocently said to me ‘Mommy, come and have fun with me’. I looked at her and thought ‘Ok, how do you do that?’ I asked her ‘Show me what fun is’ (because I didn’t want to be the boring mom and admit I didn’t know how). So, we jumped into the pool together holding hands, she pretended to be a mermaid and I had to be a princess. Really simple imagination games.
What dawned on me afterwards was I think I have forgotten how to have fun. And drinking or partying are not options on the fun scale. I’m talking about good old playful silly games – letting down your guard because there’s this feeling of ‘I have to be the adult’. But as a mother, I think I forgot that along the way.
Does this resonate with you? Maybe you don’t have kids but I’m sure you have nieces or nephews, or your friends have kids. Have you ever tried to go down to their level and say – Lets play a game’.
I’m not suggesting you start having water balloon fights in the office or pretending to your boss or client’s you’re a unicorn, but I am urging you to give yourself permission to relax a bit. Let go of the seriousness and need to control everything. I am a recovering perfectionist and very much A-type so believe me this is a hard one for me.
This morning, I was watching a video featuring the spiritual teacher Sadhguru. With no coincidence I found this clip of his lessons for a more enjoyable life. One of the most important things he emphasizes is we need to stop being so serious about life.
He says: ‘As an adult, being playful like a child is considered irresponsible, but really the most irresponsible thing you can do, is to be miserable in life’.
I know for myself, one of my commitments to 2020 is to have more fun. Or if that sounds frivolous, how about – Be less serious’.
Children are our greatest teachers; they remind us of who we really are and are a mirror for our triggers and way of being. I’m happy to be a student of fun but the beauty is there are no exams. It is all practical.
Here’s to finding your fun.
Warm wishes
Lori
LORI MILNER is the engaging facilitator, thought leader and mentor known for her insightful approach to being a modern corporate woman. Her brainchild, the successful initiative Beyond the Dress, is the embodiment of her passion to empower women. Beyond the Dress has worked with South Africa’s leading corporates and empowered hundreds of women with valuable insight on how to bridge the gap between work and personal life. Clients include Siemens, Massmart, Alexander Forbes, Life Healthcare Group, RMB Private Bank and Unilever to name a few. Lori has co-authored Own Your Space: The Toolkit for the Working Woman in conjunction with Nadia Bilchik, CNN Editorial Producer. Own Your Space provides practical tools and insights gleaned from workshops held around the world and from interviews with some of South Africa’s most accomplished women to provide you with tried-and-tested techniques, tips and advice to help you boost your career, enhance your confidence and truly own your space on every level. Own Your Space is the ultimate ‘toolkit’ to unleash your true power. It’s for the woman who wants to take her career to new heights and who is ready to fulfil her true potential.
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