Galumphing. All the Cool Kids are Doing it

Each semester I have to take an honors course. Last year I took the english classes, remember? This fall I registered for Perspectives in the Creative Arts because it sounded slightly more interesting than Great Ideas of the East. I was surprised to find on the first day that the class was actually Enhancing Creativity. 

The class looks like it's going to be a lot of work, but I’m actually excited. First, we were able to choose which textbook we wanted to use. I picked the one that is somewhat spiritual, because I think it’s nearly impossible to understand yourself or anything without questioning your spiritual beliefs. We have to go through the text on our own time and journal all the exercises we do. Then during the semester we have to complete two large creative projects and journal during the process. 

My favorite activity that we have to do each week is called galumphing. It is something we do simply because we want to. It can’t benefit us or anyone else, or be something that we’ve had on our to-do list for months. Coloring would be an example. Or as one student did, buy a red leather dress and test drive a ferrari.

Galumph: a joyful, celebratory, or just for fun activity; preparation for adulthood

As our professor was explaining galumphing, people (including me) were already freaking out about how they don’t have time to waste on something that really has no purpose. How sad is that? We are all so focused on accomplishing tasks that we have forgotten how to have fun without having an agenda. 

Our professor told us to be selfish when we were thinking about what our galumphs would be. The suggestion that made me think the most was that it could be something we no longer do because we realized we weren’t as good as someone else. 

Can you think of an activity you used to love, but stopped doing because you weren’t the best?

There are many times when I find myself wishing I could just be young again. If only I were playing at my grandparents house or in my backyard with my dog, I would be much happier. I would be content with life. I think everyone feels that way at some point. Except at that time a person has two options: they can either find some way to experience that satisfaction with life again, or believe that it’s only attainable in childhood and then continue to live a oftentimes miserable adult life. 

From what I’ve read so far, this class isn’t really about becoming an artist. I’m not expecting to become Picasso in 12 weeks. I think it’s more about finding the dreams you’ve buried, because at one point the world told you it was a dumb idea, and you listened. Silly world, everyone should keep their dreams alive.