Loosening Up

Time to reach for another card in the trusty Creative Whack Pack. Ready? Here goes. Ah, yes number 40 which is “Loosen Up.”

“It's not so important to be serious
as it is to be serious about the important things.
The monkey has an expression of seriousness
that would do credit to any great scholar.
But the monkey is serious because he itches.”

This is always good advice, but especially timely now.

Here are three things I do to "loosen up."

1. I exercise — especially swimming. This just about always improves my outlook.

2. Being irreverent always helps. I try to look at things humorously and think of offbeat and goofy ways they might be used or come together. I tell myself jokes — or if I'm with other people ask them for their jokes.

3. If I need a 2-minute "loosening-up," I close my eyes and imagine a huge waterfall with water cascading down. I then follow this with three very long deep breaths. It works wonders!

What can you take less seriously? What specific things do you do to loosen up?

Comments

[Steve Cunningham]

Roger - I've found that exercise not only makes me feel good, it actually stimulates great ideas for me (something to do with more neurons firing I think). And to loosen up, I almost always find that a change in scenery helps immensely.

[Randy Bosch]

Roger,
I also find exercise and being irreverent (secularly of course) my "top 2" (although some would say that in my case, both are just being "irrelevant").

#3 is checking up on what's new at the Creative Think site!! Seriously (oops,there goes the loosening up)!!

[Roger von Oech]

Steve and Randy: Here's another sure-fire way to loosen up:
http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2008/07/research-is-in-sex-is-good-for-men.html

[Steve Cunningham]

Roger - well done. I'm going to give that one a shot.

[Nutster]

I agree, Roger. It reminds me of the history professor and the psychology professor who were sitting on the veranda at the nudist colony. The history professor asks the psychology professor, "Have you read Marx?"

The psychology professor replies, "Yes, I have. I believe it is the wicker chairs."

[Curtis Dumonceaux]

I become like a child and play with my kids. I jump on our trampoline with them and get silly. I let them pile up pillows on me in bed and then jump on me while I tickle them. It's great.

[John S.]

Take our dog for a walk in the woods.

[Roger von Oech]

Nutser: A classic.

Curtis: Kids'll do that for you (but they'll do the opposite when they're teenagers).

John: Pets indeed (I have three Corgis).

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