Start Something Stupid

We are taught to avoid doing anything stupid, to be careful, to think long and hard about things. I got the careful message loud and clear. I even hear myself saying it to my granddarling but mostly as she’s teetering on the arm of the sofa poised to fall. The “think long and hard” part stuck to me like super glue. I took it all to heart often turning my “don’t do anything stupid” into “don’t doing anything at all.”

The idea to “start something stupid” is a big deal for me and not just because my mother forbid us to say the word “stupid” in our house growning up. That’s funny, I meant growing up. It did feel more like growning up sometimes.  I’ll take a baby step and leave it n the interest of “starting something stupid”.

I didn’t come up with the START SOMETHING STUPID idea on my own. It sparked from a guest blog by Richie Norton on Jonathan Fields site http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/how-to-stop-waiting-and-start-living/ called Stop Waiting and Start Living that touched me in my deepest reaches.

His personal, moving, heart-filled, real-life story shares the important message we’ve all heard before and think we already know, that this moment is the only guarantee we have. But this time, I heard it in a new way!

The writing is insightful, chalked full of wisdom and personal truths, one that I couldn’t shake, one that followed me into my day and beyond, his last line START SOMETHING STUPID.

I emailed the blog to my husband Bob who had just pitched me an idea to buy a small property on the main drag here and start some kind of business. Problem was we couldn’t figure out a viable business that made sense for the property.

He immediately shot me an email back “wanna start something stupid?” With all the inspiring ideas in the blog post, we shared the same takeaway, touché Mr. Albers. This particular project probably isn’t our “something stupid,” but now we are on the prowl for what is.

Those three words “start something stupid” changed us. We see the world differently, through eyes open a little bit wider, looking for what purposeful, new adventure might be out there for us.

Heading out this morning, Bob pokes his head into my office and kisses me goodbye.  I say “have fun and don’t forget to start something stupid.” As the door closes, I hear him say “how stupid???” like it’s a challenge. I’m a little scared now!