Whimsy-maxxing

A beautiful full moon was still high in the sky when I walked the dogs with my sister yesterday morning.

As I gazed at it in wonder, my sister told me it was a “strawberry moon”. She wasn’t sure why it was called that, so I asked my friend Google, who told me the Strawberry Moon is a traditional name for the June full moon, marking the season when wild strawberries were historically harvested by Native American tribes.

In the Northern Hemisphere it can also be strawberry hued, due to reflections from being low in the sky in summer. But, in the Southern Hemisphere, the June full moon is the highest of the year and it’s brilliant, glowing white.

It’s amazing that you can see the grey swirls on its surface from Earth, those vast, flat plains of solidified basaltic lava are visible from so far away,

It reminded me that I wanted to tell you about whimsy-maxxing.

Whimsy-maxxing the practice of maximising playfulness, joy, and childlike wonder in your daily routine.

It’s big on social media right now and it’s much healthier than that terrifying looksmaxxing trend. TikTok has embraced whimsy on many fronts: make-up, fashion, decor, travel and even food.

It’s about doing things because they make your inner child happy and is a reaction to the grim realities unfolding around the world.

It could involve stringing up fairylights in your lounge room, wearing bold colours, being more spontaneous or chasing little moments of awe … like gazing at the strawberry moon.

Psychologists who study emotions say small experiences of awe can lower stress, increase feelings of connection to people and even make us feel like we have more time in an increasingly hectic world.

I’ve been trying to pay more attention to little, lovely moments in my days.

There’s a magpie who sits on the balcony outside my office window and warbles every time I’m in the city.

What’s a magpie doing in the concrete jungle? But I love him for it and he reminds me of my grandparents, who would feed a family of magpies on their back step every morning.

There are other moments that make my trip to the city feel so much better, including the happy greetings I receive from the workers in my favourite cafe, Portico. One staffer even came out from the kitchen to say hello the other day. I’m a bit worried about the barista’s RSI, though. I dream about winning the lottery and giving them all gift cards.

Actually there’s a touch of whimsy about the cafe too. It’s tucked under the historic Scots Church and filled with retro objects like typewriters and portable radios.

As I carry my coffee to the office, the Sydney Harbour Bridge gets closer with every step. It’s pretty amazing to work in its impressive shadow.

Travel whimsy-maxxing is also a thing. It’s the art of embracing joy and wonder on the road … or sea. And it’s why I love cruising so much – slowing down and gazing at the ocean for hours, shedding tears as a pod of dolphins surround the boat, scouting for crystals on a remote beach …

I’d like to say my inner child stays permanently happy as a result of these moments, but that wouldn’t be true. I still have my ups and downs.

However, it was definitely one of the things that saved me from the spiral of sadness that my divorce provoked.

I discovered the beauty of the natural world and began travelling in it, taking photos of it and learning to live in the moment just a fraction more.

Have a fab weekend. Mine will be relatively quiet once again. A walk, a trip to the dentist, a glass of wine with DD.

Song of the day: The Police “Walking on the moon”