When I was in my twenties, I was blessed to get to know my husband's fourth cousin, Muriel, who, at the time I met her, was ninety. Muriel was one of the most interesting people I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know and though she has been gone thirty years, I still miss her. She was a hoot!
Muriel lived in New Orleans her entire life and had never married. During her college years, she'd traveled to Europe with her best friend...on a freighter. Probably since there were so few passengers, as well as the fact that she and her friend were attractive young women, she and her bestie had often dined with the captain. Honestly, I could sit and listen to Muriel for hours. She never said anything you'd expect her to and the stories were always unique and interesting.
"That's nice," you might be thinking, "but what does this have to to with being a goofball and being happier?"
Simple, it was Muriel who first made me think about the way I was living my life, although it didn't fully "kick in" I guess you could say, until I was around forty-five or fifty. Rather than complaining about old age, being alone, or being physically unable to do the things that she had done during her youth, Muriel found being ninety quite liberating. She was always saying how she had done this, that, or the other because since she was ninety, it didn't matter what others thought of her anymore. To her, old age was...freeing.
Since it's been three decade since she passed, I can no longer remember many of the specifics of what she had done simply because she felt her age allowed it. I do, however, remember the oddest thing, or what I felt like was the oddest at the time. Muriel felt her doctor was quite handsome, and I believe she said he was in his early thirties, so one of the last times she'd seen him, she decided to announce her undying love for him! (A comment which he apparently acted like he had not heard.)
Now, I'm not saying you should pronounce your love for someone who is unlikely to be interested in you, but what I am saying is that, at least for me, if I worry too much about what others think, I miss out on harmless fun that might even bring joy to others.
When I was a teen, like most people I imagine, I was extremely concerned about what people thought. Through my twenties, thirties, and even a lot of my forties, I refrained from a lot of goofy stuff I wanted to do because I was worried about what others thought. All this changed though, as I approached fifty years of age. Fifty isn't old. Also, it's just a number. Nonetheless, I celebrate yet another anniversary of my twenty-seventh birthday each year. But it occurred to me that I shouldn't wait until the ripe old age of ninety to do some of the silly stuff I would like to do, so I gave it a shot, and I would recommend that you do as well.
You might be wondering what it is that I do. While I won't go through all of it because certain things are a surprise for someone later, I will tell you that I love to cosplay as characters portrayed by my favorite actor to whom I bear absolutely no physical resemblance, apart from both of us being part of the human race. Before you tell me this isn't weird because many people enjoy cosplaying, let me add that I don't only do this at events like Comicon. Nope, I do it around town and make videos that I post on Instagram because it's my hope that I can convince the actor that he needs to do a Comicon in my neck of the woods, or possibly even take a vacation with his family.
I thought for sure with the ridiculous costume I was wearing that I would get kicked out of a few places, but I was pleasantly surprised. Many people ignored me since I was careful not to be disruptive in any manner. Others though, I could tell that I absolutely made their day, or maybe even their week! They were thrilled to be in my video handing me (in full mask and costume) a beer or ice cream. They eagerly participated and it was awesome to see how their faces light up, just because I was there acting like, well, a total goofball.
The same goes for attending K-pop concerts dressed like the band and exchanging things like handmade bracelets with other concert goes whilst waiting in line. I really thought I'd be a freak doing this at my age, but everyone from those waiting queueing with me to the band members themselves (it was a small concert and my VIP ticket allowed me to meet the group) loved it.
So, I challenge you to embrace your inner goofball and bring joy to others. Make their faces light up and have a better day yourself in the process!
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