Day 5: April 16, 2017
Challenge: Do something you haven't done since childhood
This one was super fun for me. In spite of the fact that I say I had an awful childhood that damaged me in more ways than I care to admit, I do have a lot of fond memories. There are many things that I did as a child that brought me joy, and I don't do them any more, because they're childish, or I don't have anyone to do them with. Dancing and singing to the music at the grocery story, walking and playing in the park, coloring, drawing, reading in a blanket fort, having pancakes for dinner, etc. When I began the birthday challenge, the whole idea of it was to push myself to do things that bring me joy, no matter what I think other people may be thinking about me. Children have an innate ability to find things that are joyful and not worry about what others think, but as they get older they are taught to settle down and conform and not embarrass their family. They allow themselves to stop doing things they like because they're not cool. They leave behind the joyful for the sensible. Now I'm not saying that sensible can't be joyful, I'm just saying that like so many others that I know I've given up things that I once enjoyed because of the perception that they are inappropriate for someone my age, or embarrassing, or not cool.
I still have plenty of room to grow in this area. "I Love Rock'n'Roll" came on the musak system at Walmart the other day, and I started belting along with it and dancing around the aisle while I was looking for something. That is until I noticed a lady scoffing at me, then I immediately hung my head and scurried around the corner hoping that I wouldn't see her again. I realize that I have every right to enjoy music in public, and since I can sing and dance well, I really had nothing to be embarrassed about. But I'm still so worried about what other people think. I'm better and more confident than I was, but I still need to work on embracing the joy and ignoring the norms. I need to be more childlike in my appreciation of the world around me.
Challenge: Do something you haven't done since childhood
This one was super fun for me. In spite of the fact that I say I had an awful childhood that damaged me in more ways than I care to admit, I do have a lot of fond memories. There are many things that I did as a child that brought me joy, and I don't do them any more, because they're childish, or I don't have anyone to do them with. Dancing and singing to the music at the grocery story, walking and playing in the park, coloring, drawing, reading in a blanket fort, having pancakes for dinner, etc. When I began the birthday challenge, the whole idea of it was to push myself to do things that bring me joy, no matter what I think other people may be thinking about me. Children have an innate ability to find things that are joyful and not worry about what others think, but as they get older they are taught to settle down and conform and not embarrass their family. They allow themselves to stop doing things they like because they're not cool. They leave behind the joyful for the sensible. Now I'm not saying that sensible can't be joyful, I'm just saying that like so many others that I know I've given up things that I once enjoyed because of the perception that they are inappropriate for someone my age, or embarrassing, or not cool.
I still have plenty of room to grow in this area. "I Love Rock'n'Roll" came on the musak system at Walmart the other day, and I started belting along with it and dancing around the aisle while I was looking for something. That is until I noticed a lady scoffing at me, then I immediately hung my head and scurried around the corner hoping that I wouldn't see her again. I realize that I have every right to enjoy music in public, and since I can sing and dance well, I really had nothing to be embarrassed about. But I'm still so worried about what other people think. I'm better and more confident than I was, but I still need to work on embracing the joy and ignoring the norms. I need to be more childlike in my appreciation of the world around me.
Do something you haven't done in years! #40daysto40 #birthdaychallenge #HappyEaster pic.twitter.com/LueLaF6qLN— Stacy Snider (@StacyLeeSnider) April 17, 2017
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