How to be happy: 'Take silly things seriously'

The flower in the top image is a hyacinth.
Its flower language is 'play'.

When spring arrives,
it is a plant that blooms
with many small flowers in clusters.

As adults, we sometimes feel a bit guilty about 'playing,' but I believe it is actually a precious time that enriches our lives.

Today, I'd like to talk about that kind of 'play'.

Today, I played in the sandbox with my son.

Well, 'played' might be an understatement; we founded a nation.

At first, it was just a sand pile. But then my son said, 'Let's build a pyramid,' so I decided to take it seriously and started building. Using adult strength makes the construction go fast. My son busily carried the sand, and I did the shaping. Before I knew it, we had completed a pyramid of a size I had never seen in the neighborhood.

However, a pyramid alone is weak as a civilization.

So, we built a castle.

We connected the castle and the pyramid with a road.

Once the road was built, a town was needed.

Once the town was built, a port was needed.

Once the port was built, trade began.

Why trade started in a sandbox is beyond me.

My son was completely into it, adding settings like 'Dragons appear on this road, so you can't pass' or 'This is the treasure warehouse.' As a result, our nation ended up with serious logistics and defense problems.

I glanced around and saw other parents relaxing on benches in the shade.

I was drenched in sweat.

I was also covered in sand.

I think they were probably a little put off.

But hey, if you're going to do it, it's more fun to take it seriously.

As adults, we start looking for meaning in everything we do.

Is it useful?

Will I gain something from it?

Will it lead to my future?

We end up thinking only about those things.

Of course, I think those are important.

But no one looks for return on investment in a sand pyramid.

Trade doesn't generate profit.

The completed town was half-collapsed by the time we left.

Even so, the time I spent laughing and building it with my son was fun.

Looking back, the things I enjoyed as a child were mostly silly things.

There was no meaning to them.

I was just absorbed in them.

Perhaps happiness is found in places like that, unexpectedly.

By the way, after returning home,
I excavated a large amount of sand from inside my shoes.

It seems I had brought it back as a trade good.

A recommendation I remembered while writing this article

For those who want to get serious in the sandbox, I recommend a small trowel like the ones plasterers use.

Honestly, a shovel is enough if it's just a sand pile.

But it's a different story when you're shaping castle walls, leveling roads, or defining the edges of a pyramid.

Having this tool will instantly increase the level of perfection.

It works so well that you wouldn't think it's a child's sand toy.

I consider it essential equipment for building a civilization in a sandbox.

It's just a trowel, but it's more than just a trowel.

If you're going to take silly things seriously, I recommend taking your tools a little seriously, too.

I have also compiled other 'ways to be happy' flowers
at the link below.
Please take as many as you need🍀

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope to see you in another article.
🍀May you be happy🍀