Are We Having Fun Yet?
The other day, I read an article by a woman who teaches writing to seniors.
She said at their age, they should only be doing things that are fun.
She was partially right.
I think everyone should be doing things that are fun, regardless of their age.
And if the fun isn’t obvious, find it.
I remember telling someone one afternoon that I had to go to work.
Then—in my head—I consciously changed that sentence to, “I get to go to work.”
It’s amazing what one little word change does to your attitude.
I realized there were all kinds of things about that job that I loved.
Shouldn’t we all be doing things that we “get” to do, rather than we “have” to do?
And if that’s not the case, maybe we’re not looking hard enough for the pleasure in our chores.
I don’t want to be a Pollyanna.
I know, of course, that there are some things that just aren’t fun and could never be fun.
But I’m not talking about life or death.
I’m talking about the chores we have to do, including our jobs, and also those goals that we set.
If your job or working toward your goal is really soul-sucking, and you can’t find any enjoyment, then maybe it’s time for a change.
Change your goal, change your plans, change your setting.
But if you can’t do that, then look for SOMETHING positive.
Focus on that.
What do you get to do because of your situation?
You have 19 more weeks left of this year.
Push through the drudgery.
Find something to make the final push more enjoyable.
For me, that’s coffee.
If I know I have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for me in the morning, it makes getting up and tackling my writing projects a lot easier.
But shouldn’t the pursuit of our goals be enough motivation?
Sometimes, it’s just not.
So I say, why fight it?
Make a list of the small things that bring you happiness.
Put them in your way so you’re constantly stumbling over them.
As adults, we get to do that.
I’m pretty sure that at the end of the day there’s no shiny reward for being miserable.
Life shouldn’t be one big demoralizing chore.
We joke about “adulting” as if being an adult is a quagmire of angst.
It doesn’t have to be.
If you want some inspiration, subscribe to Bella Grace, a quarterly Stampington and Company magazine (bellagracemagazine.com). It’s easier to find online unless you have a really good bookstore near you.
So turn up the music or grab that cup of coffee or handful of jellybeans and focus on the tasks that are taking you closer to your big, audacious goals.
Until next week,
~Gail
Countdown: 19 weeks left of 2024
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Love the part where you say, “Make a list of the small things that bring you happiness.
Put them in your way so you’re constantly stumbling over them.” Makes all the sense in the world. Thanks for th post!
Thank you Sherry! Make it fun. 🙂