Reader I had a profound moment over Thanksgiving thanks to my eldest daughter.

It's after 8 PM on Thanksgiving.

I'm in the front passenger seat. My husband is driving, and my daughters are in the back seat.

We are in an upscale neighborhood where we've been enjoying our Thanksgiving feast at a friend's home.

Many homes are already lit with Christmas lights.

We turn onto the main thoroughfare and there are four houses in a row with the same commercial style lights outlining the front of the home.

My younger daughter says, "I bet they all use the same Christimas lighting service to put up those lights."

My older daughter adds, "But what's the point. It looks to sterile and cookie cutter. Where's the whimsy?"

My mind zereoed in on that pairing, 'Christmas whimsy.'

Reader, I invite you to take a moment to contemplate that combination, "Christmas whimsy." What do you visualize?

The images that came to me included:

• The original cartoon version of the Grinch and the nonconforming styling of Whoville and its residents
• The original "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" and the dentist elf (it always struck me as such an unexpected choice)
• The Charlestown Indiana Christmas lights display set to music

What all of these have in common that add up to my idea of whimsy is playful, carefree, colorful, joyous.

In that moment I knew that I needed to cultivate more whimsy into my holidays.

But let's be honest, Reader, life would be better if I moved whimsy to the top of the list 365 days each year.

Instead, I live inside this counter-narrative:

• instead of playful I'm rational
• instead of carefree I'm planful
• instead of colorful I'm professional
• instead of joyous I'm pleasant

Whimsy is freedom from restraint and rules; an invitation to exude fun and joy.

Being rational, planful, professional, and pleasant has earned me trust and respect.

But it is also boring and risk-free.

I'm very attracted to these words: playful, carefree, colorful, and joyous.

How about you, Reader? Would you like more whimsy in your life?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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