Reclaiming Silliness

In less than 24 hours, I’ll be on a plane to Seoul where I’ll be meeting two of my girlfriends of 20+ years. We're going to eat and drink all the things, enjoy the culture, and take a day-long bus trip to see where BTS filmed a show among other fandom things.

Yes, you read that right. We’re going to Seoul as fans of global K-pop artists 방탄소년단, Bangtan Seonyeondan, Bulletproof Boyscouts, aka BTS.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a loud and proud BTS fan or ARMY (Adorable Representative MC for Youth). If you want to know more about them and their music ask me and I’ll gladly tell you more than you ever wanted to know, including playlists by mood, chronology, and genre, so be warned.

It’s always interesting to see people’s reaction to a 53 year-old, Black female K-pop fan. For the most part, people react with a bit of shock and surprise which often turns to a bit of awe because of how effusive and passionate I am about it. Occasionally I sense judgment or  indulgence, as if being a 53-year old Black BTS fan is weird and I’m just silly. To which I gladly say, YES! I am weird and silly! I claim silliness!

"Silly” is a word that's frequently used as a cudgel to keep people, often women, in boxes. To be silly is thought to be the antithesis of serious, incapable of reason or credibility. That one word in certain contexts is dismissive and renders people and ideas irrelevant. I often wonder how many people were stopped from greatness by hearing “Don’t be silly.”

I’m sure Octavia Butler heard it when she decided to write Afro-futuristic science fiction, as did Tracey Norman when she decided to become an international model. I know for a fact my mom heard it when she quit her “good” government secretarial job to become one of the first Black flight attendants for Piedmont Airlines. I heard it when I left my career of 20+ years to start my own practice and join Daylight to elevate the philanthropic advising field. Not to mention us “silly” ARMYs who’ve collectively raised millions of dollars for global initiatives.

On this last day of Women’s History Month, in celebration of these and all the other silly women who’ve changed the world, I’m officially reclaiming silliness and I want y’all to join me. Embrace the silliness! Go to two countries in three weeks because of a band (speaking from experience – worth it!). Flesh out that ridiculous idea and share it and encourage others to do the same. Pick up a hobby that serves no other purpose than that you’ve always wanted to. Tell our girls and boys that being silly is exercising our imagination muscles.

Silliness is a contagious expression of joy. It’s dreaming without bounds and finding courage in the outrageous. It’s enthusiastic and whole-hearted belief in possibility. What better time than now to unleash silliness as a superpower?