When I am enthusiastic about a subject I’m teaching, my students are too. If I tell the little ones, “You’re going to like this drama game!” They do. It may be a drama game they’ve played before, like the mirror game. (The mirror game is when you stand across from a partner and mirror their movements. And then your partner mirrors yours.)
When my kids get fresh, I tell them, “Hey, your attitude is contagious. Try enthusiasm.”
We live in a snarky culture. For sure, I can be sarcastic. Because I’m witty. But sarcasm seems the opposite of enthusiasm. Sarcasm stands back in judgment. Enthusiasm jumps all-in, without a care for consequence.
Well, there is the consequence that you may be made fun of. As I am by my children. Regularly. (For my bike, zipcar, business, enthusiasm, whatever.) But then, they’re teens. I think sarcasm’s wired in teens.
I tell my kids, Most people are naturally shy. When you meet someone new, if you’re just a little bit out-going, you put people at ease. Enthusiasm is charismatic, fun and entertaining.
Here’s an enthusiastic picture of me. As you can see, I’m enthusiastic about the whole world.
On a side note, I like to think I came up with the hashtag #yellowpants Whenever I see someone wearing yellow pants, I think to myself “hashtag yellow pants.” I’m enthusiastic about my yellow pants. Because they were one of my last purchases at Loehmann’s. But that’s another story.
“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.” — Allen Ginsberg via the daily post
Do you follow Ginsberg’s advice — in your writing and/or in your everyday life?
100 Days of Poems and Pics 
I love your yellow pants! And your enthusiasm! Great page that brought a smile tou face as I sit with my son at the doctor’s office. Go infect the world with your enthusiasm!
Beth, hope all is well w/your son! Thanks for the compliment on my #yellowpants! 😉
Please, please, don’t infect me. I can be as enthusiastic as the next person, but my naturally grumpy nature makes it very hard for me to deal with lovely enthusiastic people; I just can’t cope! But I do admire you for being able to be that enthusiastic, and you seem like a lovely person, so we can get along 😉
Ha ha! Yes, I do try to dampen my enthusiasm around grumpy friends. Although sometimes, I can’t help it, I may get extra-enthusiastic, just for spite!
I think your students are most fortunate 🙂
thanks, Linda. And I am fortunate too. It’s a two-way street!
Did loehmanns close?
yes, sadly, bankrupt!
I was in your hood yesterday and passed by the closed location. Boo