Are we having fun yet?

I was in Facebook chatting with someone I had just met online and they asked me…

“So, what do you do for fun?”

This question put me back a couple steps. I realized that, at that moment in time, I was not having much real fun.

So I asked myself the question…

“Is having fun really so important?”  

After some thought I decided that it is actually important to have fun in life. In fact, it made me reflect on the wisdom of youth, where being active in sports, having fun with friends going places and doing things to have new adventures is actually a very big part of being happy.

There is this idea afoot that happiness is an achievement that once reached it remains for life. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Happiness is the practice of doing fun things in life. Active things.

I have come to the realization that I am actually a really lousy spectator. Sitting and watching television, going to a movie or watching sporting event don’t really make me happy. It is fun when you are doing those things with people you enjoy being around, but really, watching someone else perform will never fulfill me as much as if I performed.

Fun is a word I associate with play. To play is to create spontaneous moments on a consistent basis by juggling something in such way that commands your full attention.

Playing games like basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball or softball, are games that require sudden and spontaneous reactions and this takes you into a mental state of creative play. It is fun.

Yes enjoying a walk in the park or a dinner at a nice restaurant are nice, but it isn’t exciting me emotionally or physically.

So, when I ask myself “What do I do to have fun?”, I have to look back at my life and list things that I did that made me happy. Here is a list…

  • Dancing: I love to dance. It is fun to just go and dance with great music and have fun with others. It is great exercise.
  • Basketball: Playing basketball is a lot of fun for me. It is the best exercise.
  • Performing: Making music on stage, or performing anything really in front of people is a lot of fun. To entertain others with others is a lot of fun.
  • Partying: Just hanging out, standing and talking to people in a fun environment is a lot of fun for me. Actively interacting with people in a humorous and friendly way is something I really enjoy.
  • Swimming: Being around water, especially the ocean, have been sources of fun for me all through my life. Sailing and camping were also a part of this. Without a pool, my family wouldn’t consider staying at a motel. Water is such a great stress reliever.  

Honestly, these five things are the most fun for me. Your list may be different. Things like playing with your pet or your children would also be fun things to do. Going to amusement parks or going on a hike or a bicycle rides with some folks that are pleasant to be with is a lot of fun too.

Again, I write this because it is a self-searching practice to analyze things in my life that may also be of help to you. I look at my life right now and realize that I am not doing any of the things I listed which make me happy and that has an effect on my personality.

Oh yeah, and by the way, I like blogging! It is fun to work on your own blog, especially when it can help you earn some money!

Why not, right?

So what is fun about blogging?

Blogging is fun for me because it is a way of performing. It is a place to record your life, a place to share your passions with the world. You can put pictures, videos, recordings in unlimited amounts on your blog and it will be a permanent record of your activities. Imagine, you can share your virtual photo album, video memories with folks the world over, and you can limit the number of people who have access to it as well if you are worried about privacy.

So, do it! To get started blogging just click here!  

The fact is, I believe that in order to be happy you must do the things that are fun for you. Have fun, share your happy life with others!