Today, I caught myself saying: “I just love the silliness.”
It happened while watching a clip of Carol Burnett being accused of “cheating on Wordle” because she’s managed to get it in one guess, a staggering seven times! The interview went on to discuss how her celebrity friends were sure she must be cheating. It was fun and silly. And I said so out loud (to no one but myself!).
And the moment I said it, it felt like a little gift from Jess flying right into my mouth.
This simple realization felt huge, especially given last week. I was at the Waimea Hospice Grief group, and we were sharing recent observations. I talked about trying to live by Jess’s personal motto, her favorite quote: “Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.”
I admitted to the group that I felt okay with the honest and kind parts, but I was definitely struggling with the silly one these days. In a room full of people navigating deep loss, silliness wouldn’t exactly be our hallmark. Everyone nodded knowingly.
Then came today. That video. My laugh. That sudden, powerful reminder of how much I truly do love the quirky things humans do. The unsanctioned art projects built in the middle of nowhere, the odd creative risks, the moments that make no sense and perfect sense all at once.
Just this morning, I read about the famous Charging Bull on Wall Street. Turns out, it wasn’t actually a sanctioned city project at all! An artist simply made it, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the sculpture, and dropped it off one night. The city tried to remove it, but the people loved it so fiercely they demanded it stay. That’s the kind of beautifully brazen silliness that makes my heart grin.
So here I am, once again, being taught another genius lesson from my girl. Silliness isn’t frivolous; it’s essential. And all I need to do is take the time to notice it.
I’m making an #JessInspired commitment: I’m going to take time to look out for and celebrate something silly every single day. And I’d love it if you joined me, too.
Join the Silliness Hunt!
I invite you to join this daily mission!
What’s something silly that you found or saw this week that just tickled you? Share your find in the comments. I’d love to hear!
Grief Heart Project 