As we grow older and embrace the multitude of responsibilities that adulthood brings, we often bury a part of ourselves along the way. During childhood, each new day brought a new adventure in the form of play and learning. The fun you had was spontaneous and chaotic, unplanned and exuberant. While your obligations, successes and failures, anxiety about the future, and lofty goals may make it seem like it's dangerous to step out of the role and routine of an adult, the child within you still remembers what it was like to be full of mischief and good humor. Having fun for the pure delight of it can feel frivolous, but part of having fun is letting go and acting like a kid again. And a little fun can combat stress and lead to creative inspiration. It can be difficult to get excited about the changing of the seasons or the coming of a new year when you work year round. But what better reason is there to have fun than the simple joy of long summer days that are great for searching for four-leaf clovers, piles of autumn leaves to jump in, making snow angels in the wintertime, or jumping through puddles in the spring? Kids know that fun doesn't have to be carefully planned or scheduled. Why not go to the nearest playground and spend some time on the swings? Or shoot crumpled paper basketballs into your wastebasket during a slow afternoon in the office? Fun can come from veering away from your normal routine. Have breakfast for dinner and cake for breakfast once in a while. Do something you haven't done since childhood, like make freezer pops, ride a bike, build a sandcastle, or paint with your fingers. Finding fun in unexpected places is a kind of joy no one can take away from you. Every day can be your own personal celebration, even when things aren't necessarily going your way. A little fun can go a long way toward lifting your spirit, especially when you find yourself doing something a tad wacky, like doing a cannonball off the high dive. There are lessons to be learned in doing so, about staying carefree and doing something that makes you laugh every day.Tuesday 9 November 2010
Letting Yourself Have Fun
As we grow older and embrace the multitude of responsibilities that adulthood brings, we often bury a part of ourselves along the way. During childhood, each new day brought a new adventure in the form of play and learning. The fun you had was spontaneous and chaotic, unplanned and exuberant. While your obligations, successes and failures, anxiety about the future, and lofty goals may make it seem like it's dangerous to step out of the role and routine of an adult, the child within you still remembers what it was like to be full of mischief and good humor. Having fun for the pure delight of it can feel frivolous, but part of having fun is letting go and acting like a kid again. And a little fun can combat stress and lead to creative inspiration. It can be difficult to get excited about the changing of the seasons or the coming of a new year when you work year round. But what better reason is there to have fun than the simple joy of long summer days that are great for searching for four-leaf clovers, piles of autumn leaves to jump in, making snow angels in the wintertime, or jumping through puddles in the spring? Kids know that fun doesn't have to be carefully planned or scheduled. Why not go to the nearest playground and spend some time on the swings? Or shoot crumpled paper basketballs into your wastebasket during a slow afternoon in the office? Fun can come from veering away from your normal routine. Have breakfast for dinner and cake for breakfast once in a while. Do something you haven't done since childhood, like make freezer pops, ride a bike, build a sandcastle, or paint with your fingers. Finding fun in unexpected places is a kind of joy no one can take away from you. Every day can be your own personal celebration, even when things aren't necessarily going your way. A little fun can go a long way toward lifting your spirit, especially when you find yourself doing something a tad wacky, like doing a cannonball off the high dive. There are lessons to be learned in doing so, about staying carefree and doing something that makes you laugh every day.