The Universe Has a Sense of Humor (And Maybe You Should Too)

I saw a meme the other day that said,

“Maybe the next phase of your healing is just being a silly goose.”

And honestly? I’ve never felt so seen.

For 20+ years, I wore my ambition like armor—high-functioning, high-achieving, building big things and collecting gold stars like it was my job (because, well, it kinda was). I thrived on vision boards, launch calendars, and the dopamine hit of checking things off my to-do list.

But somewhere along the way, I squeezed all the fun out of my own becoming.

And so this year, I've been on a different kind of mission—one that doesn't require a strategy call or a sales funnel or even a retreat in Bali.

I'm trying to play again and let me tell you something: it’s harder than it sounds.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what play actually meant for me.  It had been so long since I let myself be silly without a reason, so long since I laughed without being productive afterward,  that I kind of had to… fake it.

So I started small.  A little dance in the kitchen.  A bad accent while cooking dinner.  A goofy reel on TikTok that made me cringe a little when I hit “post.”

It didn’t feel magnetic.  It felt awkward.  It felt… vulnerable.

Because when you’ve carried a lot of responsibility,  play doesn’t always feel safe—
it feels irresponsible.

As I've lightened up, stopped micromanaging my joy and started letting life meet me there the the wildest thing has happened:

I've felt myself come back online and it's like the Universe is there clapping for my comeback.

The more I let myself be a silly goose, the more magic shows up.

And I’m not kidding—since I’ve really let myself lean into lightness, life’s been handing me surprises like little winks from the divine.

Like this last week.

We pulled up to our condo in Steamboat, and I was already in my feels.  I walked in, went to light my signature candle—you know the one. The scent that instantly shifts the energy and says, “We’re off-duty now. Welcome to the magic.”

But it was gone. I forgot we'd burned through it. No backup.

I literally thought to myself,  “Ugh, I wish I had remembered to bring another one.”

And then? I open the linen closet…

Sitting inside, in an Anthropologie box, was the exact same candle.
Left by an Airbnb guest from the winter with the kindest note thanking us for sharing our condo with them. They had no way of knowing it was “our candle.”
But somehow… the universe did.

That’s the thing about stepping into your joy—you stop chasing, and life starts meeting you.  Not on your timeline. Not in your Google doc.  But in the most delicious, delightful, you-can’t-make-this-up kind of ways.

What if play was the portal?

We’ve been sold the lie that play has to be big.  That it has to look like a plane ticket or a curated aesthetic.  But I think the most magnetic moments happen in the in-between—when you let go of the script.

So if play feels hard for you too…

You’re not alone.  You’re not broken.  You’re just re-learning how to be human again.

And the best way to practice?

Not in some big Bali retreat.  Not on the next plane ticket.  But right here—in the ordinary, everyday, coffee-sipping, laundry-folding kind of moments.

So here are 10 silly goose starter packs to add a little more magnetism to your day:

1. Make a playlist called “Silly Goose Energy.”
Dance to one song while brushing your teeth. Bonus points if it’s from 2004.

2. Send your friend a voice note using your most unhinged accent.
(No explanation. Just vibes.)

3. Put your phone down and play tag with your kids.
Or your dog. Or your partner. You’re not too old for this.

4. Make something badly.
Ugly art, weird poetry, a chaotic meal with no recipe. Do it for the joy.

5. Talk to the sky.
Ask for a sign. Tell the universe a joke. Get weird with God.

6. Take a detour just because it’s pretty.
Even if it adds 12 minutes. Especially if it adds 12 minutes.

7. Say yes to a spontaneous invite.
Even if your hair’s dirty. Even if you’re in a mood.

8. Wear that outfit that feels “too much.”
It’s not too much. It’s exactly you.

9. Laugh at your own serious thoughts.
Catch yourself being overly intense, and just… giggle at it.

10. Light your favorite candle like it’s a ritual, not a routine.
Even better? Let the universe surprise you with one like it did for me.

You are the frequency.
And when you let life feel good again—
not in a perfect way, but in a willing-to-feel-it way…

That’s when the magic shows up.

Stay silly,
stay open,
and stay in the miracle.

With love from the freefall,
S.