I’ve always been pretty serious about things. I thought being serious meant you are disciplined, prepared, thoughtful, and (hopefully) successful. As it turns out, this approach does not always lead to maximal joy. Much of my life has been cluttered with anxiety, perfectionism, and deprivation under the disguise of “taking things seriously.” It’s impossible, of course, to look back and know if a lighter perspective growing up would’ve led me down different paths. But, as with all regrets, all I can do is choose more joy and less stress moving ahead. Enter, Unseriously-Serious Susan.
Unseriously-Serious is courage. It’s having the confidence to make a decision without trepidation. It’s seriously trusting your gut and letting go of compulsion to get things “right.” It’s seriously trying new things without worrying about looking silly or not being the best. Unseriously-Serious means working hard while making it fun, and knowing there’ll always be another chance. It’s sticking to your guns but choosing when to call it. Unseriously-Serious means trying to be the greatest you, while accepting that the target will be ever-evolving.
I guess it’s no different than following an “everything in moderation” approach to life. We’ve moved back to our favorite mountain town to be Unseriously-Serious Mountain People, enjoying big(ish) adventures-- but safely and comfortably, swapping camping for hotel stays as needed, or stopping for a pint and fries on the way home. It’s not all or nothing.
Yoga and other Eastern philosophies teach about these dualities: finding relaxation in work and recognizing the struggle in human life without letting it rattle you.
I’m still pretty serious about some things, too often, I suppose. And, there are times I actually need to buckle down and really do the work to move forward. Maybe it doesn’t have to be perfect work, though, and maybe it doesn’t matter if I hit quotas or miles or splits. As the years tick by, the real things to take seriously are those that bring you back to your authentic self, with joy and passion for experimenting your way through life. So I get back on the saddle, take a few falls, dust myself off - like we always said: get dirty, feel good.
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