My dear blogging buddy Deb wrote a fabulous post this week about courage and singing. It was enchanting and enjoyable and reminded me of a silly chanteuse moment, years ago where I embarrassed myself but lived through it. Here’s the post: Falling in Avignon. If you read, promise you won’t think less of me. And if you do, don’t tell me. Deal? Delusions are okay and today I’m thinking I’m okay. Let’s not mess with my vibe.
But ya know what? If you DO think less of me, I’m not sure I’ll care. At least not as much as I might’ve a few years ago. I’m learning that my ‘little spark of madness’ is one of my…umm….’gifts’ and I find myself leaning into being ME. Sometimes quirky without trying to offend, I think of it as putting a premium on joy so I can silence my inner critic. Robin Williams encouraged me, so maybe he’s a beyond-the-grave co-conspirator?
That noisy voice in my head still chirps about who I may…or may not…have offended, ignored, slighted, irked, annoyed. You get the idea. But I’ve learned to turn down the volume and make peace with myself. Said another way, I think I’m coming to terms with my very own brand of joie de vivre.
Thank you, Merriam-Webster. “Vitalizing energy and zest”? Yes. More please!
Have you done something recently (or in your past) that you’d classify as stupid silly? Maybe a mistake or a moment that you regret…but the further you get from it the more you can dismiss the transgression and give yourself a little grace? I did something like that this week…and apologized straight away but I’m still shoulder shrugging and chalking it up to me being me. Silly without intent to harm. I should come with a warning label:
“Mistakes will happen. No offense intended. It’s just my joie de vivre.”
You’ll understand when you read about my latest whoops on Heart of the Matter.
-Vicki 🥰
Victoria Ponders 
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