When Life Gives You Snow…Throw Snowballs!

     As I sat at the traffic light I noticed two, big, burly guys walking out of the Wendy’s Restaurant towards a pick-up truck. All of a sudden one of them scooped up a handful of snow and nailed the other guy somewhere between the lower jaw and neck. I was surprised but I LOVED IT! Within a few seconds these two guys went from thirty-five to ten-years-old, throwing snowballs, ducking behind the truck and sneaking around the side of the vehicle trying to take the other by surprise. The battle didn’t last long but it was priceless for those few seconds I watched.

     I have always believed the real key to staying young is not found in the expensive Estee Lauder creams and ointments that I occasionally purchase, but instead depends on an individual’s ability to ‘play’ and be ‘childish’ sometimes. My kids complain that when I get around my ‘high school friends’, we all become very “annoying” and act “silly”—what they don’t understand is that for those few minutes, we revert right back to being seventeen, and having those friends and that outlet is probably what’s kept me sane all these years.

     It is fun to play. Playing puts anyone in a better mood and reminds us that we do not have to be an adult ALL the time. Whether it’s a game of cards, Risk, Monopoly or a snowball fight in the middle of a parking lot; playing brings out the kid in anyone. Some of the happiest people I know are kids…so why not be one every once in a while?

     There have been many times I wanted to plow some unsuspecting soul with a snowball, but felt like it wouldn’t be mature or they might get mad at me, but today I did it and it was great. It was a perfectly packed, perfectly rounded, ice, cold ball of snow. The victim was my daughter’s boyfriend and the throw was truly amazing considering my non-athletic skills. It smacked him right in the side of the head and left him speechless and motionless at first, it was a surprised attack after all…but then as fate would have it, he regained his composure and got me back.

     In life everyone has roles that they must fulfill; roles such as wife, mom, dad, husband, employee, community member, consumer, club member and so forth. There is one role we should all add to our list and that is the role of ‘being a big kid’ sometimes. It will change your energy level, your outlook, your sense of humor and the way others look at you! Channel your inner kid and throw a snowball at someone but prepared…they will be shocked…but they will probably retaliate.