Alot of folks live out their lives like bored zombies, sluggishly wandering through their day, not fully engaged in what’s going on around them. They also limit their lives to taking everything seriously. They make rules and they follow rules, many of which are ridiculously unnecessary. I can’t let this happen to you. Don’t sleepwalk through life. Rebel against the Burgermeister Meisterburger. Sing with Twisted Sister: “We’re Not Gonna Take It!” And break the rules that stifle your inner child.
For example, there have been two articles in the Los Angeles Times (one recently) about inappropriate clapping during symphony performances and classical music concerts. Apparently, this is “a problem” and is met with outright “disapproval.” Yeah, yeah, whatev.
Alright, I’ll be the first to say that my entertainment taste runs on the low-brow side (think “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” and “Kentucky Fried Movie”). BUT – if I were to attend the symphony, I just might be inspired to applause at a particularly moving…movement!
Is it so wrong to show jubilation? When toddlers are potty-training, we clap heartily when they poop! We clap at the movie theater after a good show. Some of us even clap after great sex (except when we find out later that we got The Clap). My point is: Clap Away!
Another once-popular, but now banned, joyful expression is – The Victory Dance. I love seeing athletes do them. The flamboyant, in-your-face celebration is prohibited mainly because it’s taunting and discourteous. Yeah, yeah, whatev.
I say DO IT! And check out this video for inspiration – even a baby knows how to do a victory dance. By the way, these twins (Santino and Lorenzo) belong to my son’s 5th grade teacher, Ms. Romero. So cute. And you can be cute, too, when you do a Victory Dance!
Next on my Unleash Yourself list: Do The Wave. Who says you have to be at a sporting event to do this? My family and friends have done this at restaurants. I got my co-workers to do The Wave just last month as we were wishing farewell to a fellow employee who was deploying in the Navy Reserve.
If you can’t muster the nerve to instigate The Wave, then how about – just wave. Wave at people and flash that Orbit smile (ding!). See if you can get people to wave and smile back. A couple of years ago, at the Amtrak station in Fullerton, California, on the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I had my kids and nephews play a game during the 10-minute stop. We were in the view car that had huge windows and I dared all the kids to see who could get the most people outside the train to wave back at them.
There were alot of people standing around the platform and sitting on the benches at the depot. The kids had already counted over 40 wavers by the time we left. It’s irresistible to smile and wave back at someone doing the same to you. You too can be irresistible!
So take these tips and really put them to use. Liberate yourself from The Drone Life. I bet the Anti-Clapping People also posted these reminder signs all over the Metrolink train that I ride. Basically, I’m nagged to death throughout my commute that on-board there shall be “No Weed”, “No Ghetto-Blasters”, “No Martinis”, and absolutely “No Confetti-Throwing.” I say PARTY ON!
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2 kids playing along so far ↓
1 grannyann
// Feb 21, 2009 at 8:55 pm
You know here in Oklahoma we seem to do a lot of waving for some reason. We wave at train engineers, a farmer on a tractor, and sometimes just someone we pass on the highway.
Maybe its because there is not much else to do here or that we are just overly friendly (people from other places say it is the latter). Its fun when the other person is not expecting you to wave. The train engineer will toot his whistle if he sees you wave and my grandson loves that.
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2 marissa
// Feb 21, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I love wavers! That’s cool about the train engineer. I gotta love Southern folks, so friendly and polite, with their lilting drawl and all.
It IS fun when someone’s not expecting you to wave. Sometimes they startle, look around, and then raise their hand tentatively.
Over here, boaters wave at each other, so do motorcyclists and truck drivers. Otherwise, better not make too much eye contact or you could get shot. Just kidding
(or not.)
By the way – have you taught your grandson how to get truck drivers to pull their air horn?
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