The Crankiness Crusher™

When I was little, I used to love to play dress-up (as I think most kids do). There was something about actually looking the part that I was envisioning that really made the story come alive. Wearing a costume also encouraged my imagination to burst with creativity, and act more daring or more confident and beautiful, depending upon my choice of garb.

Big & little pirate wenches! Credit: Catherine Commander

This past weekend my family and I went to a pirate party to celebrate my friend’s son’s 4th birthday. When we walked in, I saw that kids both young and old were wearing pirate hats and kerchiefs and it made me smile. I immediately grabbed a kerchief for myself and my daughter and we were instantly transported to the world of merriment that was going on in and around the pretend ship. I really got into character, almost embarrassingly so, but greeting people with the phrase, “Ahoy there me hearties!” and grunting “Arrr!” with one eye closed was a real laugh and a huge crankiness crusher. A few scallywags took some unflattering photos where I looked way too much like a drunken sea dog, but I’ll share these two that my talented friend Catherine took since I’m vain and only want you to see the cute shots. 😉

I never thought that dressing up like a pirate wench would be a pick-me up, but it just goes to show you that a little bit of role-playing (the adult kind too–ha!) can be a quick and fun escape from reality. It can help you find your buried treasure of positive thoughts so the crummy ones won’t anchor you down.

Hope you enjoy the weekend, mateys!