So in December I’m doing a 30 day challenge to think of a hero a day. I wrote last week about starting with the ones from childhood.
Day 1 had to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I still remember seeing the movie for the first time when I was about 4 years old. I loved her ruby red shoes from the start. I admired how even as she was on her way to the OZ to fulfill her wish of returning home, she had the time to stop, help others and even bring them along on her journey. That is a another story for another day.
Day 2 was Alice in Wonderland. Ah…my dear Alice. That too is for another day.
Day 3 is what I want to share today. Now Dorothy always makes me wistful. I remember good feelings of being a child with my family, and Alice’s story resonates on many levels. But Pippi, Pippi is a pure stream of joy.
Over the weekend I was reading an excellent book By Deepak Chopra and David Simon, Grow Younger, Live Longer. It is an excellent practical book with 10 Action Steps. The last one, #10, is You can Reverse your Biological Age by Maintaining a Youthful Mind.
One of the action steps is enjoy play; lightheartedness and laughter. Pippi is perfect for that. When I think about why I liked her as a child, and still as an adult, three reasons bubble up to the top of the list.
1. Pippi did Pippi.
That girl was original, she had her own style and she was proud to be who she was. Most often we are trying to fit in. Not Pippi. It was her style, and her purity about it, that made you want to be with her. She was like a lightning bug flitting around and you wanted to chase her and play with her just as she was.
She did not have the latest stylish fashions, or bling accessories, the opposite actually, and you wanted to be like her. Pippi loved herself just as she was and then that self love oozed out for her friends too.
2. She was spontaneous and followed her curiosity.
Talk about a life learner. There was rarely a situation where Pippi was not fascinated with life. Every part of it. She followed her innate curiosity and tried things on. Hats, and food, and experiences. And not just the “right” way. Why just walk forward if you could do it backwards instead. Why not?
3. She made everything joyful.
Need to scrub the kitchen floor. Bummer. But not for Pippi. She’d just put on two scrub brushes for shoes, dance all over the kitchen with her friends and get the job done. It was exercise too!
This is a short video that I promise will spread some of that awesome Pippiness and make you smile.
Even on a rainy Monday morning, after watching this, I am feeling good. (If you do a Youtube search you can find some german videos of Pippi- it’s even funnier in German!)
So where do Pippi and Deepak collide? Somewhere along the way to adulthood, life gets serious, and heavy and not-much-fun. Too many to do’s and not enough laughs. We create the trap of what I call “responsible adultdom.” It ages us, much faster than time.
I’ve been in that place of IF/THEN. IF I am a responsible adult THEN I have to… and can’t… This strangled the curiosity, spontaneity and fun right out of my life. Pippi…my adorable friend Pippi. Who knew Pippi could help me get younger and live longer?
So I’ve been relearning how to play. It’s a practice. I’ve been reprogramming my thoughts. I CAN be a responsible adult and be curious, spontaneous and fun. I’ve been seeing my yoga and mindfulness practice in a new way.
I’ve been asking myself, What would Pippi do?
Have you remembered any heroes from your childhood? Any that capture the abundant joy, curiosity and spontaneity of Pippi? Take a few moments today to remember a hero and see if for a day you can be guided by your hero?
If no one comes to mind, I’ll happily share Pippi.
Be well, it’s a state of mind.