uninhibited excitement is underrated and underrepresented. often grouped into the category of ‘soft’ things, i find that it’s more like a fire and that the way it bubbles up to a boil is something quite powerful.
in the run-up to the oscars, i have been keenly following richard e. grant and his compelling, unadulterated excitement for being nominated. the video of him acknowledging his nomination and, with actual tears in his eyes, exclaiming that he is an ‘almost 62 year old man’, ‘absolutely overwhelmed’. here is a link to the video because his joy is contagious: https://twitter.com/richardegrant/status/1087727401960984576?lang=en
what makes this notable is the novelty of it! it’s charming because actors rarely give such vulnerable displays of joy in the face of nomination. maybe it’s because they’re worried they won’t win, and their happiness will somehow become ‘embarrassing’ and damaged in hindsight.
something interesting is the connection between immaturity and emotional liberation, even when it comes to something as positive as radiant joy. enthusiasm is ‘soft’, it’s ‘cute’. we consider richard e. grant’s wonderful attitude to be something to be protected, as though it makes him innocent in the face of the world. putting any of his happiness to be down to naivety is doing him a disservice. fierce positivity is warming.
on that note, i am finishing this post with a list of things that i am excited about!
- animal crossing on the switch being released this year
- warm weather
- graduating
- the next time i can have a proper cooked breakfast
- the next episode of fleabag
- swmrs new album
- strawberry season
- waking up tomorrow