Do you see how happy I look in that photo? My typical default ‘resting sarcasm’ facial expression, replaced by sheer joy. Look at me, I’m like a little competition winner.
Somebody sent me that photo just two days ago. It was taken last December on the set of a short video that I’d written and directed. It made me smile instantly because I can seldom remember laughing so much in one week.
There’s something quite brilliant, weird and liberating hearing a bunch of actors regurgitate lines that a matter of days earlier, only existed in the dark recesses of my perverse imagination (And trust me, I got them to say some weird sh*t that wouldn’t sound good if ever read back to me as evidence in a court of law).
But I had fun…a lot of fun. In some ways, it’s ridiculous that I was paid for the privilege. Here’s hoping the client didn’t feel the same way when they saw the final production.
It’s strange but that one isolated week, made me reflect on how I spend my days. Now you’re not to know this but I have a small piece of paper on the wall next to my desk given to me by my old English teacher when I was just 12 years old. It simply say’s ‘Keep Writing’.
Only I know why she took the trouble to leave me with those two poignant words. Like any good teacher, she knew I hated school and was fast heading towards an illustrious career of licking windows - but she saw an entirely different kid when I put pen to paper and I guess it was her way of planting some direction and encouragement.
The combination of receiving that photo and aimlessly staring at that piece of paper (when I really should have been working) vicariously got me thinking about my own kids and their unwavering commitment to having fun.
Children in general, do an excellent job at highlighting just how rubbish adults are. Which is odd if you take in to account, we are all basically children that have just grown up.
My youngest son Isaac (aka shark-bait) for example loves football. His room is plastered with posters of players with names that neither of us can pronounce and he has no space for anything in his life that doesn’t include kicking a ball or watching other people do the same thing. He also has two modes. Asleep and running. He runs everywhere. If he sees something he wants, he runs at it. If he wants to go somewhere, he wants you to run with him. There’s no middle ground. He’s either running or is flat-out unconscious in his bed. I love that kid but
it’s bloody exhausting. Look up fun in the dictionary and it would be a big picture of that funny, clever, gorgeous little sod.
Joshua my eldest boy at 15 loves music. He earned a prestigious scholarship at Harrow beating thousands of other applicants world-wide and is on track to becoming a world-class musician. Many people tell me that he’s naturally talented but I think that does him a disservice. Josh has dedicated every waking hour to practicing his craft to achieve where he is today. He is dogged in his determination and never gives up until he has achieved every piece to perfection. More importantly though, Joshua loves music down to his very bones which means his days are spent knee-deep in his passion. Some days, it’s a privilege just to
share the same oxygen as that young man. He’s also better company than almost any grown up I know.
Jude, my 13 year old son is one of the funniest people on the planet. His eyes are riddled with mischief and he is an annoying master of the English language. You honestly can’t say anything around him without being on the receiving end of a clever gag, normally at my expense. If he doesn’t end up as a stand-up comic, I’ll be gob-smacked. Jude also loves basketball. There’s not a stat that he can’t tell you about the NBA. He also has the capability to become an amazing writer with an imagination that would make Walt Disney consider a career at McDonalds if he knew he existed. One of my favourite things about Jude though, is that he has no time for anything that doesn’t make him happy. Something any adult could learn from.
And then there’s my only Daughter Poppy. If you could order the perfect little person on Amazon, she is what would arrive on your doorstep. My little girl embraces and takes on life like no other human being on the planet. At just 8 years old, she’s already smarter than me and her Mother combined; She loves anything to do with animals and has already made plans to become the next super-vet and marry her best mate Michaela.
Just last week, she fell off a horse and was back on it in a heartbeat (quicker than any adult would be) and the first thing she did was to make sure the horse was ok. Every moment for Poppy is an opportunity to question, to understand, to learn and wring every-last bit of fun out of every waking hour. There is no feeling in the world like being in the presence of that little girl, aside of course, from knowing she’s yours, which is mine and her mum’s privilege alone.
I have to be honest, I got a bit choked up writing that. For somebody whose primary skill involves the use of words, ironically there aren’t enough available in the dictionary to describe how I feel about those four little deviants - they do however illustrate my point perfectly.
I, like many parents work to give my children opportunities in their lives and encourage them to do what they love. They in return, without hesitation, embrace every second by doing what makes them tick and inject fun into every given moment.
Equally, almost every mum or dad I know will tell their children they can do anything they set their minds to but let’s be candid here, leading by example when you have bills to pay can be a challenge.
It’s easy to view work as the thing you do to earn money, to get you the things that you want or to look after those you love - but if you forget to have fun along the way, then somethings gone horribly wrong.
Do I do what I dreamt of as a child? Don’t be a dick. What kind of twisted 7-year old wants to run a marketing agency? I do however, love my days. I only take on customers that I like working with and there’s seldom a day when the number of times I laugh doesn’t outweigh the amount I punch my screen. So, I do alright.
Now I know as grown-ups occasionally, we all have to do stuff that we don’t want to do but with that said, we can all learn a little something from our children, in particular their capacity to embrace all that is possible and fun about the world.
Even when someone is acting like a total tool, I try and remember that they are some poor sods mum or dad and they’re just trying to earn a living for them. They may be an evil vortex of hate wrapped in a cheap suit but I let it go (After I’ve called them a few names behind their back, clearly).
However you make your way in the world, there is always a way to make yours and the people’s lives around you that little bit better and you can do worse things than bringing the attitude of your own children (or for that matter, the younger you) to work during the day.
Just don’t forget to employ the social graces that you’ve learned as an adult because let’s face it, nobody likes a crier in a meeting.
You’re a long time dead, enjoy every day kid.
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