Let’s All Be a Little Like Kimmy Schmitt

I’ll admit it, I like watching, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt,” and I have mixed feelings about Kimmy. I love the eccentric characters of Titus and Lillian, and am a little scared of the fact that I have a little Lillian in me. I love those characters! They are perfectly flawed. Kimmy is also perfectly flawed, but in the most annoying way possible, she is too happy.

Seriously, how can anyone be that cheery? It makes me want to barf sometimes. Then again, sometimes I think we can all be a little bit more like Kimmy Schmitt (just not as naïve.) We can all be a little more carefree. Sometimes the best way to live life is by not being pushed down by the weight of this world and just enjoy life. However, that doesn't mean we should ignore what really matters in this world.

Yes, there are times when we need to be insightful. Yes there are times when we need to stand up for the little guy. And yes there are times when we need to care about the nature of society. But we also need to care about the nature of ourselves. I am in a program where I have to address people’s emotions, but I cannot do that unless I am first able to emotionally take care of myself.

One of my biggest flaws is that I overanalyze things. I ponder and ponder until there is nothing left for me to ponder. I jump down mental rabbit holes, and let me tell you  there are no cute bunnies at the end (because I could make it so there is no end.) I’m not going to scare you and say that those rabbit holes led to some terrible places. I’m not going to say that sometimes the difficult conversations shouldn't happen. But what is the point of having those conversations if we loose ourselves in the process? Insight makes a wise person, but happiness makes us connected to each other.

I am not simply talking about a simple Netflix binge marathon (despite the title), I am talking about a change in mental attitude. In the program I am in, we have been taught a lot about mindfulness. Essentially mindfulness is taking oneself out of their head and into the present moment by focusing on the key senses. (The let the tic-tac dissolve in your mouth type exercise if you are familiar with that.) It is just as powerful to be mindful and live in the moment as it is to live in ones head. I think part of what makes us human is able to experience things on a deeper level, but part of what makes us fulfilled is able to be present and mindful of the current moment. This is where I think Confucius got it right, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

Maybe I should write about how we can only see the beauty of things once we are able to step back and fully be in the present moment. But isn’t that a little cliché? Although, I suppose there is some truth to that. Maybe stepping back helps us gain wisdom. Regardless, stepping back and being fully immersed in the present moment, if anything, is where happiness lies.

After all, humans are strong as hell! (cue jingle) 💪