The Dork Factor

We all have an inner child… some are sleepers and others might dominate too much of the time. But gosh if they aren’t fun to play with! I live by this philosophy- we spend our “growing up” years learning how to be ethical, contributing adults. So once that’s mastered, we are entitled to spend a portion of our adult years enjoying more simplistic fun like we did as a child. Around here we call that the Dork Factor – allowing yourself to let your guard down and be silly for a while.

Are you one of those folks that think silliness is beneath them? Lighten up! It’s a blast!

The best way to increase your dork factor without completely embarrassing yourself is to find yourself a Mentor – that would be a true child – under the age of “Mom, you’re embarrassing me”. We have the greatest mentor in the world. She’s 8 going on 28. Until you meet her, you can’t begin to understand how amazing she really is… it’s not just how bright she is, it’s how perceptive she is. She can read your emotions and brighten them. She brings out the childlike energy in all of us! It’s fantastic!

One benefit to having a Mentor is that strangers will think you are entertaining the Mentor – rather than knowing that the Mentor is truly entertaining YOUR inner child! Isn’t perception grand?

The dork factor is what allows us to sit in the sideyard under the tangerine tree, spitting seeds for distance. It also allows us to try out goofy voices and complicated face scrunching, or gets us to wear outrageous socks with our pants suits! The dork factor may also come into play when the music finds us dancing and jumping around… Most importantly, it allows us to laugh and enjoy the simplest pleasure. For that moment, life becomes less complicated. You are truly living in the moment. It’s important to have these moments… it helps relieve stress, keeps you from taking life too seriously and reminds us that it’s ok to be a kid again.

Give it a try… but one bit of caution. Seek out like-minded individuals before practicing your dork factor to keep yourself out of trouble. Let me know what you’ve done to exercise your inner child lately, I really want to know!