In between the vibrant fireworks of the new year and the springtime warmth of May lies a gloomy purgatory — a period of three months when the skies are filled with rolling clouds, the sun isn’t shining enough for it to truly be considered spring and the universe seems to be cursing us with a barrage of unending rain. Throw in Punxsutawney Phil predicting that we’re about to experience an extended winter, and you have all the right components for the rainy-day blues.
This lingering sense of gloom makes us yearn for a more carefree, vibrant time: elementary school. A time when rainy days meant staying indoors to color rainbows with pots of gold at the end, cut out paper hearts for Valentine’s Day and play harmless pranks on our peers when the first of April rolled around. A time when everyone was filled with unabashed whimsy.
Yet over time, as we traded our craft scissors for wooden pencils and our colorful construction paper for three-ring binders, we lost that sense of childlike glee. It’s official: As we grow up, we seem to enter a serious recession. A whimsy recession. And it’s preventing us from finding joy in times when it’s desperately needed.
The stigma that surrounds acting “childish,” coupled with a fear of embarrassing ourselves around others, has prevented us from engaging in the silly yet joyful holidays that we used to celebrate in the past. Too scared about what others think, we refuse to partake in the childhood activities that used to be a breath of fresh air in the midst of a monotonous season.
It’s hidden in the way that we refuse to dress up in festive colors or laugh off the concept of childish crafts, or the way that we pass judgment on those who go out of their way to show their spirit, showcasing the courage and effort that we lack.
When we look back on St. Patrick’s Day, who can forget the glee we felt when we came back from a fun recess and saw that a mischievous “leprechaun” had trashed our entire classroom and left behind a trail of gold? It’s not too late to recreate that sense of wonder. I know I’m going to pack some chocolate coins for the road as I go hunting for that lucrative pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. All while wearing green, of course, lest I get pinched.
At the same time, it’s possible to eke by without whimsy. To surround ourselves with solely discussions of college applications and monotonous plans for the future, ignoring the part of us that longs to embrace immaturity for a day or two. But along the way, we would be stifling an innate part of us and giving in to shame rather than the liberation that inherently accompanies these “silly” activities.
Even playful non-holidays like April Fools can serve as a relief from the monotony of daily life. Whether it’s a pie to the face or a strategically planted banana peel, a harmless prank or two is all it takes to bring a smile to our faces without hurting anyone. Alternatively, Valentine’s Day, a typically romance-centered holiday, can be reinterpreted to celebrate our childhood friendship and create whimsical crafts (and if you throw in some pink glitter, I won’t judge).
It’s time to get in touch with our sense of childhood wonder — to let go of the embarrassment and shame that keeps us from engaging with the simple pleasures that make us smile.
