Just do it!

CREATE A COSTUME

“My goal is to say or do at least one outrageous thing every week.”

—MAGGIE KUHN, FOUNDER OF THE GRAY PANTHERS

Patch Adams, the rebellious doctor immortalized in the 1998 movie starring Robin Williams, says he can’t conceive of practicing medicine without creativity, insists art is every bit as essential to diagnosis and treatment as the surgical suite. Without art, he says, life is sterile and meaningless.

Patch believes in injecting surprise, fun, and outrageousness into each day. Most days he wears a clown suit. He also owns a gorilla costume. And a ballet tutu. He gives himself exercises to do—like call 50 names in the phone book and practice making conversation.

Great freedom comes in taking risks, stepping outside the tiny line society prescribes as “normal.” He suggests making an ass out of yourself every day—until it no longer feels uncomfortable. Start with what Patch calls “ridiculous raiment,” clothes that are loud, bright, and clash. Given the narrowness of fashion standards, it’s not difficult to come up with something to provoke chuckles and remind people there are limitless possibilities. Patch recommends fire hats, space helmets, and beanies with whirring propellers.

Zumba for the Soul

Dress up like Elvis. Go dancing.

Stage a watermelon-seed spitting competition.

Dye socks and a T-shirt to match.

You’re in Good Company

Meryl Streep, who has been nominated for more Academy Awards than anyone in history, was rejected for the main female role in King Kong because Dino De Laurentiis thought she was “too ugly.”

“This was a pivotal moment for me. This one rogue opinion could derail my dreams of becoming an actress or force me to pull myself up by the bootstraps and believe in myself. I took a deep breath and said, ‘I’m sorry you think I’m too ugly for your film, but you’re just one opinion in a sea of thousands and I’m off to find a kinder tide.’”