How to Bring Your Inner Child to Work With You.

     When I was young I was terrified to grow up. I thought I would lose my imagination at a certain point and morphe into a boring adult. For this reason, I played with Barbies until I was in 8th grade. I was devastated once I packed up my dolls. I felt pressured to move on from something I loved so much. Friends and family shared the same belief that I was too old for dolls. I disagreed because the children in the commercials appeared to be about my age. Society pressured me into making a transition I was not ready to.

    Now that I am 31 I realized how people will pressure you to make decisions that they have no business to. My doll play was not hurting anyone. My Pepto pink room did not cause any angst. Why did I have to change? In hindsight, I simply did not. Certain people who shall not be named tried to make sure I made each choice in my life with a future husband in mind. Jokes on them because I'm gay! I could delve into how amazing my current girlfriend is but I'll save that for later. 

One of my personal fun pens!

    My point is....do what you want. Cling to the things that bring you joy and let go of things that do not. I totally understand how hard it can be when you work in Corporate. Here are some ways to help you unwind and embrace your inner child! 

1. Buy silly pens! A pen can do so many things. Why not let it make you laugh? A cute pig pen perhaps? A Hippo that has the ability to "poop"? Whatever you like. Fun pens can also be a great ice breaker. Here are some of my favorites:

• For the Succulent Parent: Cactus Shaped Pens 30 Count
  
• For the Cartoon Lover: Cartoon Pens 24 Count
  
• For the Cat Obsessed: Cat Paw Pens 8 Count
  
• For the 90s babies (remember trying to erase with this fruit? LOL!): Nostalgic Fruit and Cartoon Pens 30 Count
  
• For the poetry and gardening lover: Tulip Pens 30 Count
  

    2.  Are you shy? Maybe fun pens are too much for you. No worries! We can dial it back to a zone of comfort with fun slippers for home!

• Do you miss Sesame Street? Then these are definitely for you: Bert and Ernie Slippers
• Are you an adult that constantly makes your peers groan with your puns? Get these immediately: Freudian Slip Slippers
• Who doesn't love Mario Brothers! These are for you: Mario Bros. Plant Slippers
• You have been described as "whimsical" in the past month. Here you go: Unicorn Pastel Color Slippers
  
• 99% of your time at the office is spent daydreaming about the great outdoors. Can't sink a hook into a fish on a Monday? No problem, sink your feet in instead: Soft Bass Slippers

    3.  Maybe you want something subtle but still fun at the office? A treat for all co-workers that pop into your cubicle! A Desk Calendar is the best way to go!

• A classic, Cats doing what they do best: Bad Cats Desk Calendar 
• Perhaps you are immune to second-hand embarrassment? Go on, indulge: Stupidest Things Ever Said Desk Calendar
• Puns are a legal form of torture. Buy yours here: David Olenick Pun Calendar
• If you love Boomer humor. I used to love this lady: Maxine Daily Desktop Calendar

   4.  Eating out is tempting but not in this economy! Save some money and have fun with these retro lunchboxes!

• A classic: Star Wars Lunch Box
• Take a happy little lunch to the sad office with this: Bob Ross Lunch Box
• David Bowie...that is all: The Labirynth Lunch Box
• Our collective favorite neighbor: Mister Rogers Lunch Box
• The cutest cartoon kitty around: Hello Kitty Lunch Box

    I hope I have inspired you to stop worrying about what others think and worry about what you think. Adult life does not have to be so boring. You have an adult paycheck with a child's desires. Get yourself that thing you always wanted as a child. 

XO Ash