Maturity Is Overrated

Years ago when I was coming back from the laundry room a boy was walking on the sidewalk ahead of me. He was waving his arms and wiggling his body as he walked, clearly just enjoying the sensation of moving. I was tickled by the scene and was glad that he hadn’t yet been taught that wasn’t “appropriate” behavior. I, of course, had been socialized so I waited until I reached the privacy of my apartment to mimic him.

It was great fun…it got my blood circulating and lifted my spirits. We adults were clearly missing something. So for quite a while I integrated some waving and wiggling into my everyday life. Gradually I got caught up in other things and forgot to do it…until this week when bikehikebabe sent me this video:

I’m now back to waving and wiggling and, thanks to the baby, I also shake my legs. Immature? Possibly. If so, then maturity is highly overrated.

Thank you, bikehikebabe!

Thanks to Looney, Evan, Grannymar, bikehikebabe, Mike, Rummuser and Cathy for commenting on last week’s post.
 

9 comments ↓

#1 Evan on 11.23.09 at 7:41 am

When I was young I was way too serious. It’s took me years to loosen up – and life was so much easier and more enjoyable when I did.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Health and Weight Loss Myths =-.

#2 Grannymar on 11.23.09 at 7:43 am

I loved that video.

I dance and ‘move’ about the house to music all the time. Maybe it is just as well there is nobody about to see this inelegant elephant! ;)
.-= Grannymar´s last blog ..Food Monday ~ 2 Quick Desserts =-.

#3 Rummuser on 11.23.09 at 12:53 pm

Mature? Who me? I still wriggle and waggle and do other funny things when I walk on the road. I also make funny faces at babies!
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..34 Questions. =-.

#4 Diane on 11.23.09 at 2:55 pm

Hi Jean!

Love the video thanks….I still keep moving and shaking!!!
Play is fun!

#5 Jean on 11.24.09 at 1:22 am

Evan,
I too was too serious when I was younger and had the sense to change.

Grannymar, Rummuser and Diane,
I’m glad I’m not alone!

#6 gaelikaa on 11.25.09 at 2:53 am

Well, if maturity means losing your capacity for delight not to mention innovation, I’ll have none of it. I’m the most immature person I know. I enjoy my children’s company, and at big family gatherings like the wedding I was at last weekend, you’ll always find me hanging out with the kids. The old people here are far too serious for my liking. Always moaning and groaning and worrying. Keep me far away from all of that, I always say! Sorry to say, my husband is getting far too serious for my liking, worries far too much. Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t be responsible, but worrying is not living, it’s dying! So, that’s it! Thanks for a great and thought provoking post, Jean!
.-= gaelikaa´s last blog ..An Alternative Profession =-.

#7 Jean on 11.26.09 at 1:34 am

gaelikaa,
Good for you for hanging out with the kids instead of the doom and gloom crowd. I agree with you about worrying. Because of my temperament and early training I could easily be a worrier if I let myself. My husband is not, which is one reason I married him. He’s very responsible and also has a good sense of humor, which was one reason I married him. That’s the kind of life companion I was looking for. I’m glad he didn’t change…one can’t really predict.

#8 bikehikebabe on 11.26.09 at 6:27 pm

gaelikka, Hanging out with the kids reminded me. On week back-pack trips I used to run with the kids to look at dead animals, like the too-big brown calf that didn’t make it out the end of the small black mother cow. (They both died.)

Or trying to ski down a steep snowy slope without skis. Looked so easy & without skis in the way, I thought it would be. I fell on my face right away.

#9 bikehikebabe on 11.30.09 at 12:01 am

This is so sad I shouldn’t mention it. One time we saw a small calf by it’s dead mother. sob :( There was nothing we could do.

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