Self-Love

Corps Memories

Jeanna GLeave a comment

If you were asked what activities you participated in most outside of school as a child, what would you remember first? You’d probably remember what you spent the most time doing, and hopefully that was also what you enjoyed the most. 

In my elementary school years, playing games outside, 4-H, Saturday morning cartoons, and Nintendo occupied my free time.  My adolescent years were saturated with sports, riding my 10-speed around town, and playing for the fife and drum corps. No matter the day, I was active. 

I recently read in my hometown newspaper that the corps I marched with would soon be disbanded because of dwindling recruitment of both participants and volunteers. It’s sad to think that some things come to an end, despite how great they were or how many lives they touched. I can’t count the hours I spent practicing my fife and how to march in formation, or how many hours we spent on parade routes or in musters all over the northeast and beyond. We were a dedicated group, which is impressive for a bunch of tweens. But maybe that is even more impressive for the middle-aged. 

What can you say you do most outside of working hours now? If you’re a dedicated parent, your free time is limited, but finding ‘you time’ is invaluable. Do you carve out time for a hobby? Do you practice your talents? Do you focus on doing something that you love and is worth your while? 

I have often heard people say life gets in the way of doing what they love. 

That is absurd. 

We cannot allow ourselves to fall by the wayside. We need to dig deep and re-engage with our younger versions to find the dedication and motivation it takes to practice doing what makes us happy, and to live life to the fullest! 

Don’t let another great thing come to an end. Get out of your own way, and start living. 

Makeovers

Jeanna GLeave a comment

In middle school, the early 90s for me, we had pretty mid-out hairstyles. The 80s were far-out, so we were in a weird limbo, working our way back to some form of reserved. Aqua Net was essential. I had “The Wave,” a hard wall of bangs high above my forehead. At a slumber party, I was dared to shave the side of my head. I covered it with a section of hair so my mom wouldn’t know. (I have an incredible amount of hair). When she picked me up, she caressed my head while talking to my friend’s mom. It’s like she knew. Wide-eyed, I slinked away like any tween would from her mother’s touch. My friends all covered their open mouths and held their breath.

My daughter told me today that her best friend decided to chop her own hair off on a whim. She covered her mouth and giggled. I looked out the window and smiled while cheering her friend on in my head. New style, new life! At that age, it was so easy to change our image and become someone new. Are we ever too old for a makeover?

Juvenescence 101

Jeanna GLeave a comment

If Juvenescence were a college major, what would a graduate do with their degree? Enjoy being!

That’s not a joke! Juvenescence is a way of thinking and a way of living. Make yourself young again. Live a happier life by acting like a child. Here’s my syllabus for you:

Unit 1: Go Outside

When I was young, I was outside as often as possible. Go on nature walks, swim in a lake, ride your bike around town, have a picnic. Camp in your backyard and make s’mores one night. Put up a basketball hoop in your driveway and play a game of HORSE. Build tree or snow forts. Have a water gun fight. Jump on a trampoline. Pump your legs on a swing set. Just don’t come home ‘til the street lights flicker on!

Unit 2: Play Sports

I played sports year-round. As I approach middle age, I know I’m not going to be playing contact sports anymore, but I can still kick the ball around the yard. I can still play catch with my daughter. Tennis, golf, bowling, badminton and other lifetime sports are manageable. I have yet to get into the pickleball craze. Yard games (aka party games) like corn hole, bocce ball, axe throwing, frisbee, and polo are all fun and easy to set up! Do something that requires movement and lighthearted competition.

Unit 3: Toys

Buy the toys you always wanted, but never received. Buy the toys that you had and loved, but mysteriously disappeared that summer you were at sleepaway camp. I know playing pretend is hard as an adult, but you can still dress up your dolls with each new season, or stage a scene with your action figures or legos. Dedicate a corner of your office or den to be a play, or display, area.

Unit 4: Game Night

Schedule game night twice a month. Play board games or go to a local arcade. I love some Skee Ball and Whack-A-Mole! There’s probably a nearby bar with a pool table or darts, or foosball, if you’re lucky!

Unit 5: Learn Something New

Childhood is filled with learning, but it’s often stuff you don’t care to learn about. And I disagree with whoever said we know all we need to know in kindergarten. Take an art class. Learn a new sport. Maybe it’s finally time to take that karate class or get your motorcycle permit. Learn some magic tricks for your next gathering. Haven’t you always wanted to play the guitar? Now’s the time!

Unit 6: Get a Hobby

This could coincide with the previous unit by learning something new, but you could also reignite an old passion. Build model cars or get that train set up and running. Dust off those roller skates. Take up wood burning, leather working, scrapbooking, or pickling. Learn calligraphy, quilting, crocheting, or pottery. Start an aquarium or garden. Buy some binoculars and a bird watching book. If your hobby has a club, you could make new friends, too!

Unit 7: Arts & Crafts

Make your own soap or candles. Finger paint! Create snow globes or ornaments, or sun and dream catchers. Get some coloring books and crayons! Some thoughtful quiet time is good for the soul.

Unit 8: Read Children’s Books

Spend some time in the children’s corner of your local library flipping through picture books or classics. Don’t forget to check out the joke books or The Guinness Book of World Records!

Unit 9: Throw Yourself a Birthday Party

The sky’s the limit! Get your favorite cake. Decorate! Play Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Bingo, Musical Chairs, and Limbo. Get a slip and slide. Have a theme and tell guests to dress up. Make teams for the old egg on a spoon, hop-a-long ball, and potato sack races. You gotta love a water balloon toss. Whack a piñata! Get inflatable Sumo suits and bounce away! It’s your dream party, and you can do what you want! You might want to give fair warning to your guests, and include some ibuprofen in those party favor bags.

Unit 10: Watch Cartoons

What else is Saturday morning for?!

Unit 11: Video Games

Save the princess in Super Mario Bros. Level up in Tetris. They can be on your tv or a handheld console, but games on your phone don’t count.

Unit 12: Field Trips

Reintroduce yourself to your state’s museums, planetariums, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, and parks. Get out of your zip code for the day!

Unit 13: Friendships

This can be a hard one, but try to surround yourself with friends who are willing to act like children, too. We can’t always escape adulthood and all the responsibilities that come with it, but I think you have to try, and try often. Time is sneaky, and a lot of it can pass by without you even noticing. Be intentional about scheduling your play dates. A lot of the above activities can be done alone, but a lot of them are way more fun when done with good company.

Unit 14: Not What the Doctor Ordered

Eat pizza for breakfast. Make ice cream sundaes with all the toppings. Add extra butter to that movie popcorn. Make a candy salad to munch on during game night. Bake cupcakes on a random Wednesday night. Have an apple, but coat it in caramel first. Indulge!

Final Exam: Multiple Choice

1. It’s Friday night. Your plans are to…

A. Go to bed at a reasonable hour

B. Binge watch tv alone

C. Schedule a play date with friends

2. It’s Saturday morning. Your plans are to…

A. Watch cartoons

B. Do chores

C. Eat avocado toast and watch the news

3. It’s Saturday afternoon. You are…

A. Napping

B. Headed out for bowling and pizza

C. Getting ahead on a project for work

4. It’s Sunday. You are on your way to the…

A. Grocery store to meal plan

B. Yard to rake and mow

C. Local park for frisbee and a picnic

Answers:

You passed your Juvenescence test if you answered C, A, B, C.

A note from your professor:

I’d like to think that everyone could test out of Juvenescence 101. That means they all had a childhood, a good childhood, and they’re intentional about living youthful lives on a regular basis. However, I know that not all children have good childhoods. Some children are expected to be adults from too early of an age. Maybe they didn’t have parents, or their parents just weren’t good caretakers, for whatever reasons. Or maybe they had financial circumstances that prevented certain freedoms and privileges. Even so, my point is that everyone deserves a juvenescent life, and anyone can live a juvenescent life, even if it doesn’t begin until an adult age.

Now stop reading and overthinking life. Go out and play!