When I was journaling through the quarterly reflections I talked about in Monday's email, my response to the question about what I want more of in the next quarter surprised me.

I wrote down:

I want more whimsy.

I've been thinking about whimsy, ever since I saw a couple creators talking about it.

Liz Plank/FeministaFabulous, host of the Boy Problems podcast, shared a carousel on IG the other day that caught my attention.

She talks about Whimsymaxxing - and why we should microdose moments of awe and play.

Not only does it bring joy and delight, but studies show that playfulness in adulthood is essential for emotional regulation and creativity.

As Liz describes in more detail in her substack article, when we do small, unnecessary things simply because they’re enjoyable or aesthetically pleasing, our brains shift out of constant problem-solving mode and into a more exploratory state, where we're more likely to experience a dopamine hit and a reduction in stress levels.

Whimsy and delight give the nervous system a break from constantly scanning for threats and things to fix.

And in a world of oppression, fascism, and ugly news, Liz posits that whimsy is the ultimate form of resistance:

So how does one add more whimsy?

You gotta turn to the Qveen of Whimsy herself: Qveen Herby.

EVERYTHING she does feels fun, fresh and delightful - and, yes, borderline political!

She shared this reel and caption about why and how to stop being un-whimsical.

It's the little things you do, often just for yourself and your own enjoyment.

It turns out one of my fave habits - drinking my morning espresso out of beautiful china teacups - adds whimsy to my daily life.

I wanted to brainstorm a list to remind myself of other ways I could add more whimsy to the world:

• drinking out of fancy glasses, eating off the fancy plates JUST BECAUSE
• wearing nice PJs or lingerie, even if no one's gonna see them
• painting my nails fuchsia pink
• singing in the car
• reading smutty novels
• re-watching comfort TV shows
• singing or playing the piano
• dancing in the kitchen
• curling my hair JUST BECAUSE
• new fitness clothes
• upgrading my phone screen and case
• using the good olive oil, instead of "saving it"
• breakfast for supper
• dessert before dinner
• tickling my man-children
• lighting a candle
• bubble baths and body butter
• salted caramel dark chocolate
• going for a bike ride at lunchtime
• rollerblading/skating
• leaving love notes for my beloved
• reading poetry
• listening to albums from start to finish, as the artist intended
• watching live theatre and music
• going to the art gallery
• hugging trees and touching grass
• reading magazines
• playing board and card games
• happy hour
• visiting with friends
• watching indie films, like this delightful and hilarious movie about birding (seriously, watch it!)

Curious, Reader, if you (will) practice whimsymaxxing?

What would you add to the list? I'd love to add more ideas to mine.

Vive la Résistance! 💪

Kim