Whimsy is the art of meeting the world with a sense of play, curiosity, and a touch of the unexpected. In an era of hyper-efficiency and rigid schedules, being whimsical is a powerful stance to elevate your life. 

Change your mindset

Whimsy starts with how you see. Children are naturally whimsical because everything is new to them; they haven’t yet categorized the world into “boring” and “important.” On your way to work or school, look for things you usually ignore, a strange moss pattern on a brick wall or the way light hits a puddle. Instead of asking “Why should I do this?” ask “Why not?” If you want to wear mismatched socks or eat breakfast for dinner, there is no rule stopping you.

Curate Your Environment

Your surroundings dictate your mood. If your home or workspace is strictly functional, it’s hard to feel lighthearted. Place one object in every room that makes no sense, but just gives you joy. A tiny plastic dinosaur on the bookshelf, a disco ball in the kitchen, or a vintage postcard taped to the mirror.

Practice Spontaneous Kindness

Whimsy is most powerful when it’s shared. Spreading a little bit of unexpected joy is the hallmark of a whimsical person. Instead of “I like your shirt,” try “That shirt makes you look like a character from a Wes Anderson movie.” 

Whimsy isn’t about being “quirky” for an audience; it’s about what makes you feel a sense of wonder. If it feels forced, it isn’t whimsical; it’s a chore. Start small, and let your curiosity lead the way.

Whimsy activities 

Go for a walk with the sole mission of photographing ten things that are a specific shade of blue. It forces you to look at the textures of the city rather than just the sidewalk. Go to your local library, head to a section you know nothing about, like “Beekeeping” or “Ancient Maritime History,” and check out the book with the prettiest spine. Spot shapes in the clouds, see what the most bizarre or beautiful shape you can come up with. 

Activities in Raleigh

Raleigh is home to some world-class museums, but a whimsical person creates their own. Go to a large antique mall like Cheshire Cat Gallery in the Village District or Father and Son in downtown Raleigh. Go hiking in Umstead or along the Neuse River, and find a small hole at the base of a tree. Decorate it and leave an offering for the forest animals. Go to Doratheadix Park and look at the troll exhibit; you can even follow the scavenger hunt that goes with it. 

Whimsy from Leesville students

Maron Mekonen, junior, “I listen to jazz music while I walk or drive,” explaining how music can change the way you view your surroundings. “It helps me focus and makes me happy.” Mekonen loves to add whimsy to her life. 

Lana Richards, senior, said, “I pull my friends on random sidequests and make them hang out with me.” Richards states she even just brings her friends out grocery shopping with her because it’s more fun to dance and sing the music on the speakers to each other.  

Being just a little bit more whimsical ensures that no matter how ordinary a tuesday in Raleigh might seem, you’re always just one small gesture away from turning the suburban mundane into something truly marvelous.