“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
— George Bernard Shaw
Somewhere along the way, many of us start to believe that adulthood means being serious. That being responsible means being composed. That playfulness is something we should outgrow. But what if the opposite is true? What if play, laughter, and a little bit of silliness are exactly what keep us engaged, present, and truly alive?
Think about the last time you let go—when you laughed so hard your stomach hurt, when you danced (badly) just for fun, or when you made a joke that wasn’t clever but still made someone smile. Those moments matter. They break tension, deepen connection, and remind us not to take ourselves so seriously.
In a world that demands productivity, efficiency, and constant self-improvement, silliness is a quiet rebellion. It’s choosing joy when stress feels inevitable. It’s remembering that the best friendships aren’t just built on deep conversations but also on ridiculous inside jokes and shared laughter. It’s realizing that sometimes, the most present we ever feel is in the middle of something completely absurd.
So today, loosen up. Make a joke. Try a terrible dance move. Sing off-key in the shower. Let yourself be a little foolish. Life is too short to be serious all the time. And if play is the antidote to growing old, then maybe silliness is one of the most essential things we can hold on to.
— Joe