While our last four Wellness Wednesday messages focused on the seriousness of saboteurs, throughout the month of March we experienced continual COVID challenges, the rise of inflation, and a devastating war in Ukraine. As real and serious as these experiences are, I’m feeling a need to listen to Horace:
“Mix a little foolishness with your prudence;
it’s good to be silly at the right moment.”
This Roman poet from the 1st century BC reminds us that while virtue and discipline are important, it is also necessary to find levity, humor, and silliness in life. Moments of laughter and playfulness rescue us from the heaviness of our lives and help us stay balanced as we navigate day-to-day.
Steve Lepinski, my friend since college, is my go-to guy. Steve knows seriousness. As director of Washburn Center for Children, Steve has been a leader in Minnesota helping children and families deal with trauma, anxiety, learning difficulties, and depression. But any time I’m with Steve, laughter is sure to unfold.
Knowing that I hang out with students and teachers, he shared with me that a teacher, after asking a student a question said, “What do you think?”
After pausing, the student responded, “What do you think?”
To which the teacher said, “I don’t think. I know.”
The student came back with, “I don’t think I know either.”
Oh what a difference a period makes.
Let’s experience a bit more balance in our lives this week by following Shel Silverstein’s advice:
“Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.”
I’m going to put something silly into your world by sharing a picture of Dr. Bonita Jungels, Principal of Notre Dame Academy, who had llama friends visit her school.
From our Top 20 team…Kevin Brennan, Willow Sweeney, and Tom Cody…who mix a bit of foolishness into my life.
Paul Bernabei
Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
651-470-3827
