Guest post by Lori
Katja recently asked me what it means to me to embrace the Skimbaco Lifestyle. Coincidentally, my sister just challenged me to do something completely new. Lucky me: I got double-dared.
Hmmmmm. I’ve been around a long time. What could I do that’s new, that embraces life?
Actually socialize at a party?
Sky dive?
Run with the bulls?
Rent a red Porsche and buy a slit-to-there dress to wear for my husband’s birthday?
Let’s just say I’m not known for being particularly adventurous our outgoing. I quit both skiing and scuba after one lesson, and I always bring reading material to a party in case there’s a spare room and I get jittery from too much commotion.
So — no surprise — I chose none of those things. I found something even simpler, cheaper and more adrenalin-pumping (but perhaps less gratifying for my husband). And I did it on a whim.
After a workout at the gym, I walked to the adjacent Sunflower Market. I bought my groceries and headed back to my car with my iPod still playing.
Voices Carry by
‘Til Tuesday came on (love, love, LOVE Aimee Mann). I sooooo wanted to sing along, but what if someone heard me? I’d be mortified! But I sooo wanted to sing along.
Have I mentioned I so wanted to sing along? Ummm, loudly? It was an unexpectedly warm February day, in which a perfect moment could be had by singing to a great song with catchy lyrics, a driving beat and an empowering feel. But there were people around. What would they think?
I remembered Katja’s challenge, my sister’s dare and the alternative of jumping out of an airplane with bulls in a red party dress (or some such jumbled image).
Shuddering Inspired, I did it. I embraced the moment.
As I walked through the parking lot, I sang, “HUSH, HUSH! KEEP IT DOWN NOW! VOICES CARRY! Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh…”
I wondered what I sounded like without the background music. I wondered what people thought. I wondered if I was breaking the law.
It felt really weird. And liberating. And, skimbaco-me-timbers, joyful!
I did not look to see if anyone was judging me. It did not matter if they were. My heart was soaring, and in that moment I was completely self-contained.
So now, I double dog dare YOU. If you didn’t care what anyone thought, how would YOU unleash?
Guest post by Lori. Lori blogs from a Denver suburb about open adoption and mindful living at Weebles Wobblog . She also dishes about good buys at All Thumbs Reviews .
