Weird is a Side Effect of Awesome
On building cat forts, embracing your inner weirdo, and choosing ridiculous joy
Feral Friday is here, which means it's time to embrace your inner weirdo and stop apologizing for the things that bring you joy. Today I'm going to tell you about something that might make you question my sanity: I build elaborate forts for my cat. And I'm not even a little bit sorry about it.
The Origin Story of Cat Architecture
A few years ago, I was building pillow forts with my niece and nephew - you know, normal aunt duties. But as I was draping blankets over chairs and creating cozy caves, I had a thought: "I bet Chunk, my large and discerning cat, would love a fort!"
So I came home and built one. Well, one fort turned into two, and now I usually build her one for her morning nap. Not only is it FUN (yes, I'm using capital letters because adult fun deserves emphasis), but she absolutely loves it. And it gives me uninterrupted time to get work done while she dreams of string, birds, and rats from her cozy dark cave.
Win-win, right?
The Deeper Truth About Ridiculous Joy
But this isn't really about cat forts. This is about something much bigger: the radical act of doing things that make you happy without needing them to make sense to anyone else.
In the spirit of Crumpled Ink and what it stands for - trying things on, seeing what works, rewriting your life - I'm here to advocate for ridiculous joy. For writing a life that makes you laugh, makes you happy, and says "out with the old narrative, in with what I actually want."
I invite you to embrace your inner child. Let them play and build and paint and roll around and get weird. Let them have opinions about fort construction and strong feelings about the perfect pillow-to-blanket ratio.
The Permission You Don't Need (But I'm Giving Anyway)
Do something that makes you laugh out loud and question your own sanity from time to time. Build forts. Dance badly in your kitchen. Sing opera to your houseplants. Wear mismatched socks on purpose. Create elaborate backstories for strangers at coffee shops.
Screw what others might think.
Here's the question that keeps me building forts: In the end, will you look back and be grateful you played by polite, reasonable rules? Or will you look back and laugh, knowing your heart burst with joy because you allowed yourself to engage in ridiculous situations that fed your soul?
The Revolutionary Act of Silliness
You're never too old or too young to start doing something silly. Society tells us that adulting means putting away childish things, but I think adulting means having the financial independence to buy as many blankets as you need for proper fort construction.
Laughter is the best company when you're transitioning. When everything else in your life feels uncertain, at least you can be certain that your cat appreciates good architecture.
What does your laughter say to you? Mine says, "Emily, you're exactly who you're supposed to be, even if that person builds furniture for a cat."
The Cat's Review
Chunk, for her part, gives the forts five stars. She approaches each new construction with the seriousness of a building inspector, tests the structural integrity with a few cautious paws, and then settles in like she's checking into a five-star hotel.
She doesn't question whether this is "normal" behavior for a 47-year-old woman. She doesn't worry about what the neighbors think. She just enjoys the gift of a perfectly crafted nap space and gets on with her very important cat business.
We could learn something from this approach.
Today's Rebellion
Crumpled Ink Day 12, June 20th, 2025: Today, I choose ridiculous joy over reasonable restraint.
This is my daily rebellion against the idea that grown-ups can't play. Against the notion that we need to justify our joy or make our happiness palatable to others.
Some days rebellion looks like starting a business or speaking your truth or changing careers. Some days it looks like building a blanket fort because it makes you and your cat happy.
Both are valid. Both are necessary.
The Invitation
Feral Friday reminder: Weird is a side effect of awesome. You do you, in all your gloriously strange specificity.
What ridiculous thing will you do today? What brings you joy that you've been apologizing for or hiding? What would your inner child do if they had your adult resources and freedom?
Build a fort. Dance badly. Sing loudly. Create something unnecessary but beautiful. Let yourself be delightfully, unapologetically weird.
The world has enough reasonable people. It needs more fort builders.
Tomorrow's Adventure
Tomorrow is Solo Saturday - time for some kitchen adventures and cooking for one without sadness. But today? Today we celebrate the beautiful absurdity of being fully, authentically ourselves.
Even if that self builds architectural marvels for cats.
Especially if that self builds architectural marvels for cats.
Feral Friday: Where weird is wonderful and joy needs no justification.
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Category: Lifestyle & Personal Growth
Tags: inner child, embracing weird, ridiculous joy, authenticity, self-acceptance, personal freedom, creativity, playfulness, cat mom life, unapologetic living, feral friday, weird is awesome, adult play, joy without justification, being yourself, unconventional lifestyle, creative expression, silly activities, laughter therapy, personal rebellion, lifestyle freedom, cat forts, pet parent, quirky hobbies, self-expression
