They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
This is accurate in many ways with our family. My daughter Jadyn loves to make lists (I often write things on my list after I’ve done them so I can cross them off). Josie creates detailed spreadsheets for our foster puppies to track when they’ve peed and when they need their medication (um, well, let’s just say I love tracking data and am a spreadsheet queen). And both girls love a good travel adventure, like their mom!
However, there is one big area where they seem to have sprouted from a different seed. Let me give you a few hints to see if you can figure it out.
Last week I took Jadyn cross country skiing. It was her first time skiing this season, and she’s still learning. When I tried anything new at her age, I was always concerned about doing it right. I didn’t want to mess up or embarrass myself. Jadyn couldn’t be more opposite. She embraced the awkwardness of balancing on two skinny, slippery skis and focused on having fun!
Josie named all the appliances in the house and talks to them like they’re family members. She creates new TikToks while doing chores. She trained Alexa to provide quirky answers to her quirky questions. She changed my car GPS to have a British boy band accent. And, within 24 hours of getting our latest foster puppy, she dug out the bin of old baby clothes to see what might fit.
See the pattern here? They are playful. They find a way to have fun with everything! They’ve been downright goofy since day one.
They’ve overcome some tough days when their stay-at-home dad was sentenced to prison. And like most teenagers right now, they’re dealing with the challenges of online school, not having their sports or activities, and not being able to see all their friends in person.
And yet they still find a way to be silly, find joy, and infuse fun in almost everything they do—including chores.
They did not get this from me!
I was not like this at their age, and to be honest, I’m still not. I follow the rules. I make sure everything is well thought out before I do it. I’m structured and serious. I grew up with the belief that there’s no fun until the work is done. And since there’s always work to do, who has time for fun?
After this past year living with my daughters 24/7 (literally, we are together ALL. THE. TIME.), I’ve had a front-row seat to witness their playfulness. I want to do the same. And that’s why PLAYFUL is my intention for 2021.
The value of setting an intention
For some, setting resolutions for the year can be helpful. However, resolutions are often tossed out before the New Year’s Eve party leftovers are. An intention, however, is simply a word to keep in mind throughout the year.
An intention is a mindset that I choose to keep front and center. It’s a filter that helps me make decisions, and it’s a way I want to be. I am currently brainstorming ideas for my year of being playful. But I also plan to Pause and Think, “How can I make this more playful?” and then Act accordingly in the moment!
One-Minute Thoughtfully Fit Workout
What’s your intention for the year? If you haven’t set one yet, it’s not too late! Take a minute to do a quick core workout.
Pause. Picture yourself in 2021.
Think.
- What’s the energy you want?
- What do you want more of?
- If the essence of your year was a gesture, what would it look like?
- If 2021 had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
- What do you want to be able to say at the end of 2021, that you can’t say now?
Act. Reflect on your answers to these questions and commit to your intention. Write it down. And then write down what success would look like, so you know what you’re striving for.
January doesn’t have the monopoly on intentions
You don’t have to just set intentions for the year in January. Maybe you want to set an intention for a season, or a month (this is the first time I’ve heard of dry January…have I been living under a rock or is this a new thing?), or maybe even a vacation.
You can set an intention whenever you want. Being intentional is a key part of being Thoughtfully Fit! Start where you are and when you’re ready, hop over to social media and let me know what your intention is.
Here’s to an intentional 2021!
P.S.- Join me for Thoughtfully Fit Thursday on Facebook where I will share more about my intention of playful for this year. And while you’re there, let me know what your intention is too!
What Darcy is Watching – If I had a role model for being playful, it’d be Ted Lasso. Have you watched Ted Lasso on Apple TV? It’s one of our all-time favorites for the girls and me! Ted is a small-town football coach who’s hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having zero experience coaching soccer. His approach is focused, but always playful. It’s his playful demeanor that helps people warm up to him, and overlook his shortcomings. It is a wonderful series that I highly recommend!
