In favor of silliness

№ 26 ☼ Play ☼ Joy ☼ 493 words ☼ 2 minutes

“You shot me right between the eyes!” I yelled, scrambling to reload my NERF gun so I could return fire. Often, a war breaks out in my office, and coworkers drop what they are doing, and we unload barrages of foam darts on each other. Yells and laughter fill the air as we duck and weave around desks and hallways.

“Payback time!” I shouted as I landed a couple of good headshots, laughing as the game continued.

It might seem as if we’re a bunch of unprofessional millennials slacking off. That’s what I thought when I started my new job at this company. I was reluctant to join the fray, afraid to waste time at work. I have spent years creating a professional persona, attempting to emulate the serious, sharp-minded businessman I admire. NERF wars, long office lunches, chair basketball, and pranks all went against my sense of professionalism.

I didn’t realize that mindset was crushing my soul.

I once thought my penchant for silliness and play was a detriment. I thought it made me seem young and immature and that I would be judged for being a goofball. I’ve tried to hide that part of me for my entire career. 

Now I see that silliness is something to envy, not judge.

Being goofy doesn’t mean you don’t care about anything or never take life seriously. It means you approach life in a lighthearted way. Life is somber enough, and these times carry enough weight, enough seriousness. Playfulness, childishness, and silliness bring a lightness to life and fan the flames of something we have so little of — joy. A little levity goes a long way. Joy makes life worth living.

Though people are naturally playful creatures, we lose it as we age. The increasing seriousness of adulthood robs us of the joy of childishness. So we must give ourselves and each other permission to play. Think of when you are around someone who laughs easily. You find yourself grinning and chuckling more easily, too. It’s infectious! We signal to each other that it is safe to play, to let our guard down. At work, the boss starts many of our NERF wars. Our leader sets the tone of “work hard, play hard,” and he backs it up with laughter, lightheartedness, and work ethic. He gives us permission to be silly, play, and let go of our stress. And the work still gets done.

Those of us who are naturally goofier and sillier than others need to step up and show the rest of the world that it’s ok to relax. It’s ok to crack a joke. People need to know that they’re allowed to be playful! There is plenty of time for worry, work, bills, and burdens. Lighten up, let your inner child play for a while, and relax. You will feel your heart breathe a sigh of relief, and joy will find its way into your life in delightfully surprising ways.