Letting your true self be seen

The seriousness of the conversation was shattered with one seemingly innocent statement. As we traveled along with the girls, Leona and I were engaged in a conversation about videos, and which were appropriate for the girls to watch and how some are not. The main thrust of the conversation stemmed from our sitting in awe over how some of the things the girl say from time to time are concepts which are so far above their age level that we are left wondering where they hear this stuff from. As we spoke, anime came up.

As everyone knows by now, Riyann, my youngest, absolutely loves anime. As her mother began saying with her about how anime is can be slightly inappropriate, possibly something she shouldn’t watch, Riyann perceived a threat to her enjoyment and countered with the fact that they have “kid-friendly anime.”

Upon hearing Riyann’s statement her mother asked her, “Do you watch kid-friendly anime?”

Not missing a beat, the child responded, “Well no, but they have it.”

Instantaneously the entire vehicle was laughing loudly, due to the innocence of the moment and the child’s response. As I found it increasingly difficult to keep between the yellow and white lines, I could hear the child state, lowly, “Just keeping it real.”

As the laughter subsided, I couldn’t help but think about how awesome it is to be present while a child with a finely tuned sense of humor is free to be herself and share a little bit of fun regardless of the situation.

So often in life we hesitate to allow our “fun side” to be displayed for the world. We seemingly go from one conversation to another, fixated on a level of seriousness which is designed to maintain professionalism and candor. At the end of the day, we sit content that another day has come and gone absent any possibility of showing the true “fun side” of who we truly are out of fear that someone may do exactly what they need to do…laugh a little.

As we enter this winter season my hope for you, my friends, is two-fold. First, that you find it within yourselves to find confidence in just being you. Finding those moments where you can let your defensive walls down and simply have a little fun. Secondly, my hope is that someone, somewhere, will cross your path allowing you to tag along as they spread a little joy, make a little joke, and just simply have fun, drawing you into the adventure alongside them. Strive to spread the smiles my friends.