A few short years ago I was the Queen of the Land of “I Suck”.
In this horrible unhappy-place I found myself sad, depressed and numb.
I wasn’t sure what the word “fun” meant. My smile broke.
Worse yet, my Giggle almost dried up.
In an effort to rescue my giggle and resuscitate my own life, I abdicated my throne in the Land of Suck, packed my bags and moved to a quaint Village called “I am Fabulous”.
While in transition from Suck-Land to Fabulous-Ville I found myself looking up the words “fun” and “happy” on the Internet. I honestly didn’t understand what the words meant. Sad but true.
Thankfully, all that has changed. I am pleased to report, I have fun ALL the time.
But…What about YOU?
Is your Giggle Gone?
Are YOU in a Fun Rut?
Do YOU know how to have fun?
What IS Fun?
You don’t need to be a comedian and you don’t need to tell jokes to have fun.
Fun is an attitude, a mindset.
Fun is a gift you give yourself.
Fun comes in all shapes and sizes.
Fun is everywhere, even in the Water Closet.
Fun is a willingness to enjoy ourselves.
Fun is about being playful and nurturing our souls.
Give yourself permission to have fun.
Making time to have fun is not selfish.
Being in a state of “fun” doesn’t require lots of money either. Au contraire my giggle bunny friends – having FUN is still something you can do for little or no cost! FREE is good.
Creating FUN in your life is a necessity to maintain and build positive mental, physical and spiritual health.
Grab your clown nose and warm up your happy muscles – let’s take a closer look at FUN together.
Fun is:
- EATING DESSERT FIRST (why risk filling up on the good food?)
- Chilling out with your peeps and celebrating life - do this anywhere, anytime – fill up with friendship!
- Being playful & silly. Dance naked in front of your cat, wiggle your bum at your best friend, wear a silly hat. Go ahead, I’m not looking.
- Any stress reduction activity - think meditation, yoga (think laughter yoga too), sewing or a walk in the park.
- Smiling. Every notice how much easier it is to have fun with a smile on your face? Fun finds those who smile!
- Making up new words or creating new lyrics to songs.
- Laughing at yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. If you make an “oopsie”, laugh at it – keep your spirit light.
- Being yourself. Let your light shine, fun will erupt from your soul.
- Goofing around with your children, playing fetch with your dog or training your gerbil to make pancakes (it could happen)!
- Enjoying a sporting event – either watching or participating (beware of fireball bowling – use caution there my friends – you might want to try kickball, dodgeball or Wiffle Ball with the Delaware Sports League).
- Walking to the bathroom naked. It’s fun for me.
- Learning a new skill - underwater fiddle playing comes to mind.
- Blaring loud music in my your truck.
- Flaming marshmallows on a stick.
- Stealing kisses from your sweetheart in an elevator, on a boat, train, plane or automobile.
- Telling stories about past adventures and even the misadventures.
- Enjoying a hobby – naked bungee jumping perhaps? Um, not-so-much. Bikini jello twister? Now we’re talking!
- Reading books, blogs or magazines (bookmark Giggle On!)
- Playing a game of cards, Wii, Pictionary, Monopoly (or the sister game, Pythonopoly for you Monty Python lovers).
- Taking a break from the work of life – we are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS!
Hey YOU! Yeah, I’m talking to you!
- What ways do YOU create fun in your life?
- What are YOUR favorite activities?
- What movies make YOU laugh time and time again?
- How do YOU incorporate playfulness into your life?
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Your thoughts are most welcomed here. If you like this post, please leave a comment and tell your friends (maybe your enemies too)!
Thanks.
For more tips about fun, check out this cool site called The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun.
Other cool posts about fun and enjoying life:
Favorite things, relish in the good stuff
5 Quick Ways to Get your Giggle On
- the foundation for full blown fits of belly-aching laughter; laughter in an uncontrolled, silly or giddy way; to laugh repeatedly with short spasmodic sounds in a light manner.
9 responses so far ↓
1
Carry
// Apr 1, 2009 at 8:15 am
Christa…good article on having fun. It is easy to forget how needed fun is sometimes. Love ur suggestions. I have a few favorite comedy rerun shows that tickle my funnybones, ex. 2.5 Men…a hoot. I also do voices and call my friends up and talk to them as Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, a stern BBC announcer etc. I like your no clothes options. I hope the apartment across the way has a sense of humor!!! Do not want to become…”crazy naked guy” who used to be on Friends.
On serious note, still admiring your courage and openess in doing that weekend article on depression.
Keep on Giggling….C;-))
2
Connie Mitchell
// Apr 1, 2009 at 4:26 pm
looking up the words “fun” and “happy” on the Internet.
Too funny – I did too – Thanks for sharing!! This and many other pieces on your website and the links to others are full of treasures for the depressed one who needs help finding a way out of the funk. Thank you!!!!!
3
lg marge
// Apr 1, 2009 at 9:17 pm
When I’m feeling blue I love to read some quotes in my “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey” book – it always brings on at least one giggle. Here’s one of my favorites….”If you’re robbing a bank, and your pants suddenly fall down, I think it’s ok to laugh, and to let the hostages laugh too, because come on, life is funny.”
4
lg marge
// Apr 1, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Here’s another one…”Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess was why several of us died of tuberculosis.” Gotta love Jack Handey….
5
Mandy
// Apr 2, 2009 at 10:48 am
Since I have become a Mommy, my life has been more fun then ever before! My daughter has a way of just knowing how to make me smile. Just being around her is fun…
The funny thing is that children think that everything is fun. I really don’t think that they know anything else, but how to have fun. The sad part is that as we grow up, all of that fun seems to slowly fade away…
My definition of fun is looking at the world through a child’s eyes. Seriously…just watch a child. The way that their eyes light up when they chase bubbles around…the enjoyment that they get from running around with their dogs…their ability to make a trip to the grocery store an adventure…
I feel blessed to be able to say that I experience true “fun” on a daily basis. My daughter has helped me to find my childhood fun again. And, I am forever in debt to her for that…
6
Kevin
// Apr 2, 2009 at 7:36 pm
My three year old son Kellen is a constant reminder to me to not take life so seriously. One day we were in a grocery store and i was kneeling down to get something. He just hugged me and said”daddy, I love you all the time” Little did I realize that a woman was watching us. She was on the verge of tears over what she saw. I’m really blessed to have such a good hearted little boy.
7
Christa
// Apr 2, 2009 at 7:54 pm
@ Carry – Did you seriously look up “fun” and “happy” or are you just toying with me?
@ lg marge – I almost wet my pants when I saw the words “Jack Handy”. I could hear you reading the Deep Thoughts in your special voice *he he he*
@ Mandy – kids rule. Even though I don’t have a two legged kid, I understand the joy the little ones bring. Children are the embodiment of fun and they remind us to be light and playful. It’s great you have the ability to acknowledge your blessings. Spending time in thanks for what we have, and not what we don’t have, makes life a more enjoyable experience.
@ Kevin – Funny, I tell my dog Rosie, “I love you all the time” a couple times a day!!! These little moments in life, like the one you shared with your son, are simply gigglicious!
8
JD at I Do Things
// Apr 5, 2009 at 11:10 am
Thanks for all the great FUN tips. I am very lucky to be able to find humor in almost anything, which means I have a lot of fun with life. But I get down, too. One of the hardest things to do is force myself to work out. But once I put on the music, I am good to go. Instead of worrying about counting or time spent, I just have fun. Sometimes I work out in my underwear. I always make sure to sing loudly and involve my cats. Lots of arm flapping. I may not get the BEST workout, but it’s a lot of fun.
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Asked “Cake or Death” so you don’t have to
9
Linda Radford
// Apr 7, 2009 at 5:11 pm
You are so right-on, Christa. The fun ideas are great and to add a few of my own: 1. A good pillow fight. 2. Blowing bubbles and running around popping them. 3. Rolling down a grassy hill. 4. Glow in the dark fingernail painting. 5. Sitting still with a pile of bird seed watching them land and eat with me. Children are our best teachers of play. It is the simple pleasures of life that bring the sweetest joy.
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