Do you need a life boost? Want to giggle more? Want to catch yourself smiling? Below is a list of my top 10 lessons on how to be happier from a seasoned camp counselor.
Why should you listen to a camp counselor? Because if you have ever been to camp or around camp people you would know that we are another breed. Everything we do is heightened. Bigger laughs. Longer hugs. Deeper tears. Monumentally silly.
Camp people won’t bullshit you. Camp is a short time in the summer. We work on a deadline. None of this Take As Many Years As You Need nonsense. Honey, when we go to camp, we go big. It is why, after a summer of intense experiences, we are often tongue-tied when people ask us how it was.
“How was my life changing time???” We think.
“Um…amazing” is usually all we can come up with. There are rarely adequate words.
So whether you miss your camp days or are new to this and just want to find out what the fuss is about….this is my gift to you.
10. Pay attention.
The other day I was driving to the ferry after hiking in the rainforest. I stopped in Port Gamble (a quaint, if not a bit too Stepford for my tastes, town) to stop at this general store I like. Instead, there was a thriving public garden with many Dahlias throughout it. I got out my camera (see the photos) and my macro lens and went at it. Never even went in the store.
9. Be silly.
At camp we have a Prop Shed. This is the shed back behind the stage at campfire. It is filled with the most outstanding combinations of old dresses, funny hats, orange life vests, and oversized men’s blazers. There is a dark green terry cloth bathrobe. There is a football helmet. I’m just getting started. We argue over who gets to get the most outrageous outfit. The goofier the better.
One of the dangers of becoming an adult is you forget this side of yourself. You forget that pink feather boas (yes, I have one) can be fun. You forget that sometimes wearing goggles and a Marilyn Monroe wig with swim flippers on your feet is the best way to not take yourself seriously.
8. Sing. Camp folk excel at this. We know songs with great titles like Albert the Camel. We Come From the Mountains and Chicken. We know actions to songs, when to sway and when to clap. We know that there are sometimes dirty versions of clean songs. We embrace it all. If you are not a camp person you may think all we do is sing Kumbaya.
We do sing it, but we also know the hand motions and all the verses. BOOM.
7. If you see something amazing in someone, say it. Before your Grown-Up Self gets all I don’t do that on me, hear me out. People NEED this. People don’t see the good in themselves nearly as easily as they see the bad. They need you to point it out. They may not be ready to believe you, but you should still say it. You planted the seed. And then maybe one day they start to think, “Maybe so-and-so is right….”
6. Be ready for Burrito Night. The dining hall kitchen has a schedule. Burrito night is going to happen every Tuesday. You’re sick of them. It is fine. Life goes on. Be glad you have something to eat. But stay away from the cheese. Camp cheese gives you gas.
5. Ask questions. Get tremendously curious about other people’s lives. You will be surprised what people will tell you when you ask. Here are some good starters.
Tell me your life story.
What do you do for fun?
What’s something you wouldn’t normally tell me?
If you were a medication, what would your side effects be?
HINT: You will need to really listen for these to work. They will lead to other questions.
4. Show up.
When people are going through the darkness, show up. Say, “I’m not going anywhere.” Then mean it. If they want to talk, show them you can handle it (you can handle it by the way.)
3. Stop wasting time acting like you think you’re supposed to act and just ACT LIKE YOURSELF. If your next thought is, But I don’t know who that is...get busy figuring that out.
2. Geek out about something. Be shameless about it. Think of those people who are obsessed with Star Trek. The general public mocks them. I admire them. Be into what you’re into. If something rev’s your engine, who cares what anyone thinks. Fear usually sits in the space between “normal” and where you are terrified to go for it and just shamelessly be obsessed with something.
Geek out suggestions- TV shows, the history of basket weaving, Val Kilmer movies, the scientific names of plants, kitchen gadgets and my personal favorite…Broadway musicals.
1. Love more generously. Let the people you love know it. This is too important a matter to leave it to chance, to hope that they will pick up on it. Be generous with this. I have had camp friends run toward me as we bashed together in a great big hug followed by a sincere, “Love you.” It is the greatest thing to hear and I am grateful they were courageous enough to say it.
Breathing Tales 