Whimsy: as a strategy

Whimsy: as a strategy Eggs On Monday Whimsy: as a strategy seven pillars that aren't rocket science, expensive, or inaccessible SARAH ALFIERI MAR 14, 2026 Well, whimsy goes with everything. One definition of whimsy goes something like this: extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression. I like it. Whimsy is one of those things that can be hard to define... she's a bit like an ethereal garden fairy. There are however, some key places and practices where whimsy always seems to show up. The whimsy strategy focuses on 7 key pillars (which is a lucky number and I think that's really fitting). This is the playlist I'd recommend listening to while you read... happy whimsical girly Preview Jessie + Save on Spotify 1. Assume good will This is one of my core values in life and it really can change how you interact with the world. Try it - seriously! Just assume good will. Someone cut you off in traffic? Maybe they didn't see you. Your husband left dishes in the sink? Maybe he was busy taking out the trash for you and forgot. Your boss sent a short Teams message your way? Maybe she had a crisis with her kid. I do recognize that there are evil people in the world, but odds are that most humans you meet aren't trying to ruin your life. Listen - an arch nemesis is pretty sick but like really rare?! So just move forward under the assumption that they aren't trying to sabotage you. 2. Talk to strangers more I've found that whimsy always shows up in connection. It's what we were made for! And some of my favorite interactions and conversations have been with complete strangers - at coffee shops, on airplanes, or at the park. You would be surprised how much your odds increase of finding friends, lovers, or even future employers when you talk to strangers. Take it a step further and compliment strangers (and friends) more too. The rule of thumb I try to live by is: if I think a nice thing, I say a nice thing! I want to hand out compliments so often that I forget what judgment tastes like in my mouth. 3. See positivity as power There is a difference between being optimistic and being naive. Being able to experience difficulties, grief, and frustration and still being able to choose hope is powerful. It's also something that you get better at with practice. When I'm having a bad day, dreading a conversation, or feeling hurt I don't gaslight myself into false optimism. Instead, I take the time to center myself in the bigger scheme of my life. I ask myself questions like: Does everything in my life suck or just this one thing? Do I feel safe? Have I had enough food and water today? In 6 months or 6 years will this still be a big deal? Am I confident in my ability to do hard things and be uncomfortable? The other day I asked my husband how he would describe me to a stranger in 5 words and one of the ones he chose was optimistic. I was so excited because a few years ago I doubt that would have been on the list. I've put in the reps and now it's something that is associated with me - how cool! 4. Don't take life so seriously This one is equally as important as it is hard. We can easily convince ourselves that everything is serious and urgent. What a miserable way to live our lives. There are so many responsibilities on our plate - groceries, cleaning, cooking, childcare, medical appointments, etc. But you - and only you - get to decide how you're going to carry out those responsibilities. Either with dread and urgency that makes your cortisol spike, or with intention and some dilly-dallying. This is my petition for you to goof off more. Here are some inspo ideas: Get a silly little pen to pair with your journal (pictured below) Hang up star garlands in your kitchen Have a disco ball in your office Pull harmless pranks: I saw this great one where a couple will take a framed photo of them every time they go to a friend's house for the first time and leave it in the house Buy a razor scooter or rollerblades and take them for a whirl at the local park Put sprinkles on your pancakes Get butterfly mold trays and have fun ice cubes for your lattes You get the gist. Stop taking yourself so seriously. 5. Take the high road Don't just take the high road to feel better about yourself or to be petty or to save face with other people involved. Take the high road because it has the best views. That's all. 6. Be the connector I truly believe that all of us deeply crave connection and friendship and a "village." We all see that friend group blasted on social media or highlighted in movies and we think something is wrong with us because we don't have it. Maybe that's because we are all just waiting for someone else to make the first move. That's so out in 2026. Text someone first. DM a stranger a compliment (don't be creepy). Invite someone to grab coffee or tag along to an event. Make the plans. Talk to strangers (see how that keeps coming back up?). If I could stress one thing here it would be: invite people into your home. Your home doesn't have to be big or pretty or even tidy. There is something really, really special about gathering people together in a home. You can't reproduce in public - although I do LOVE a happy hour. Start small: have a game night with pizza or a watch party for your favorite show or a little craft night. 7. Just get going I was recently really inspired by the article "Engineering My Own Luck" by Alexa and one of my main takeaways was that... momentum creates luck. Most of us feel stuck because we spend all of our free time loathing our jean size or complaining about our life or rotting on our phones. We aren't doing anything. So get up and get going. Count down from 5 to 0 and then do something, anything really. The world is your oyster. Subscribe to my Substack for free - link is in my bio or search: Eggs On Monday