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I don’t know about you, but I have been noticing a shift with our teens and kids over the past few years. Many of them seem afraid to try and fail, or just to give something a go purely for the fun of it at school, with no expectation other than to enjoy it.

Many teens seem to believe that unless they are going to be good at something - why bother trying, which has had trickle down effects on the subjects they select and the courses they end up choosing at Uni level. Many hated subjects at lower levels can become much loved at senior levels as they explore the more interesting realms of information - if they just give it a go with no other expectation than to see what happens, rather than “will this subject give me a good OP”.

I see this with sports - we focus on the competition rather than the pleasure of physical activity, which may be why it is an uphill battle to get people to become active.

I have been watching it in my own Primary School kids. Both of them used to constantly sing - just for the joy of singing … until they met one particular teacher. In 2 short years she has managed to suck all of the music out of them. She has made choir a chore to be avoided at all costs and music the most painful subject on the planet.

Music has pretty much died in our house. I counter to the best of my ability - but it is an uphill battle countering negative programming that “you can’t sing”, “your voice is dreadful” and “unless you get it right you can’t participate”.

I don’t think she is a bad person, she is just misguided in her goal to win music competitions for the school, rather than instill a lifelong love of music.  She is typical of many of the type “A” driven personalities - forgetting that fun and laughter is as much a teacher to kids as “to do lists” and avoiding mistakes at all costs.

I also see it in our workplaces, where people are not allowed to make mistakes - and if they do they are crucified for them. Laughter of the roll around on the floor sort of belly laughs is seen as somehow inappropriate in workplaces and the realm of touchy-feely types.

Many workplaces are so focussed on the end goal, they forget to have fun just for the sake of having fun and for the joy it brings.

Where did we as a society lose our sense of fun - for doing things just because they feel great to do them? When did we stop jumping in puddles or skipping down the road?  When did we stop taking the time to bond through humour and relaxation?

How can you bring a little bit of joy back into your workplace or home today - just because you can?

Until next time

Ingrid Cliff

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