Fun

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t have enough fun in my life. Of course, what exactly is fun? According to Merriam-Webster fun is, “providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment.”

Now this may seem simple enough, but in reality what one person finds fun another may not. It took me a while to figure this out. 

When everyone was anticipating the opening game of baseball season I could have cared less. Yes, I had attended several games over the years, and always enjoyed the company, but the game itself was rarely what I found interesting or fun. 

Today, however, I look forward to attending my grandsons games, not so much for the love of the game, but rather for the love of my grandsons. I always have a fun time hanging out with them, and love being one of their biggest supporters.

As I contemplate the things that I find fun I actually came up short. Dare say, I may be considered a stick in the mud when it comes to fun. I rarely just cut loose. 

In fact, some of the things I used to enjoy doing no longer appeal to me. However, sadly I’ve not come up with a list of new fun things to take their place. 

In an attempt to study fun a little more (now doesn’t that sound fun, except to me it does) I started observing my three year old grandson whose middle name should be FUN. 

He approaches life with an attitude of fun. He misses no opportunity to enjoy life. Whether it’s riding his balance bike through a giant puddle, shaking his booty to the Gummy Bear song, or playing endlessly in the sandbox with his trucks he embraces all the fun that life offers.

I definitely could learn a thing or two from him. I’ve noticed that as we age many of us embrace inhibition. We have been conditioned to care too much about what others think, and have made people pleasing a high priority.

It’s very hard to have fun without a Iight disposition.  If everywhere you look you see what is wrong you begin to walk around with a dark cloud overhead. 

Children are generally carefree in their demeanor, and take in the wonder of the tiniest roly poly, or the muddiest puddle. They have a gleam in their eye as they look for the next fun thing always expecting to find it. 

The other day we were out riding in the pasture with our grandsons. At one point all of them opened their mouths wide and screamed at the top of their lungs. 

Now my adult sensibilities told me to keep my mouth shut,but in the spirit of fun I opened my mouth wide and screamed along with them. I must admit it felt good to just cut loose. 

Today I’m on a quest (one of my favorite things and something I consider fun) to identify all the things I consider fun. I’m also hoping to add a few new fun things that I’ve not considered before. 

Looking back to your own childhood is a good place to start. What you loved to do as a child might be a great starting point, and could point you toward something you might enjoy doing today. 

However, when doing so consider the words of author of The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin, 

“You can choose what you do, but you can’t choose what you like to do.”

This can serve as a compass in determining the things that really ring true to you, and not just something you’ve gone along with over the years. 

What do you consider fun?