Fun

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

~Dr Seuss

I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.

~Thomas Edison

Some parts of our lives are fun, but other parts of it – not so much.

We all have responsibilities – things we have to do – things we do because we get paid to do them or because they are necessary parts of our lives.

But does that mean that these things can’t be fun?

Some people go through life with a sense of weight on their shoulders. Everything they do seems to involve drudgery, and they are constantly worried that something new will either add to the grind or throw everything out of whack.

Others always seem to be positive, happy and energetic. They breeze through mundane tasks and take on new challenges with creativity and vigor. They approach every aspect of their lives with a sense of joy.

What is the difference between these two types of people? Is it talent? Maybe. But attitude probably has more to do with it.

Some people go through life looking for fun and opportunities for new and exciting experiences, and some just try to get through the day without getting hurt.

Whichever of these we’re on the lookout for, we’ll likely find it.

It can be helpful to check in on our attitudes from time to time to see if the filter is set for fun or if we are just going through the motions, taking care of business, and merely enduring life.

Do we seek out people and activities that excite us and inspire us? Do we challenge ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally?

We should regularly take stock of the people we see and the things we do and ask ourselves how many of these are fun and make us happy.

“But wait,” you say, “What about those responsibilities you mentioned earlier?” Yes, for most of us, a significant percentage of what we do with our lives wouldn’t be our first choice. We go to work, do chores, take care of our kids, and participate in activities to take care of others or make them happy.

We can’t force ourselves to enjoy something if we don’t enjoy it – fun is not a switch we can flip (Wouldn’t that be cool?!).

What we can do is ask ourselves how we might increase our happiness by allowing ourselves to be taken up in the moment. During all of these occasions, we have two options: to think about where we’d rather be and go through the motions or to get every possible bit of joy out of what we do.

If we accept the fact that what we’re doing isn’t our first choice but we have to do it anyway, why not eke as much fun out of it as we can?

We don’t get any benefit from brooding about having to be present or constantly thinking about where we’d rather be. And while we can’t necessarily choose to enjoy something, we can choose to enjoy everything as much as is possible.

We can also make conscious decisions about doing things that give us joy.

We can use our fun filter to weed out the deadwood of people and activities. Think about the people we spend time with and the things we do. Do they make us happy and/or fulfilled? Are they fun? If the answer is no (or maybe), give them the heave-ho! Life is too short!

Of course this is not an entreaty to be shallow or selfish. Part of living a meaningful life entails contributing to the welfare of the world. That is fun!

We have to have the initiative and courage to engage in things that make for a joyful life and make sure we recognize and accept all the joy that life has to offer.

Turn your fun switch on and keep it on.