fun

Fun Is Good

| Marie Griffith

I have a long list of “must dos”. A longer list of things I need to do. And a short list of fun things I really want to do. We all have these lists, whether on paper or in our heads.

The long lists take up most of my time. They include the everyday things I do at home or work. It means at work I figure contracts, reconcile GL accounts, take care of accounts payable, and analyze financial statements. At home I do laundry, have good conversations with my family, clean the refrigerator, cook dinner, or wash dishes.

The other items on the long lists are those that can wait but still need doing. Like clearing out the sun room and painting the walls. Getting quotes from contractors on more work we want done to the house. Cleaning out the attic and the barn. Trimming trees and more landscaping.

But what about that short list? Yours will be different than mine because what is fun to me may not be to you. But we all need our own list of fun things we want to do.

I want to fly somewhere with each of my kids and backpack on the Appalachian Trail this year. My husband and I want to see the Northern Lights and picnic in a vineyard. I want to paddle board and learn Spanish, do some freelance writing, and complete the Spartan Trifecta. These things don’t need to be done, and as author Mark Buchanan put it, the world isn’t changed by my doing them or not.

But I need to play. You need to play. Because we need a break from the ever growing “to do” list.

Because of the chores and responsibilities and deadlines, the short list tends to get shoved under the others. Disregarded as less important. Forgotten about.

If we’re not careful, adulthood can turn into one big obligation and we forget we need to have fun. We forget how to play.

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If you’ve neglected play for so long and don’t know what to do, start small. Play Go Fish with your kid. Dance in the living room. Fly a kite, jump on the trampoline or ENO in the park. Visit a theme park and ride all the roller coasters. Sign up for that cooking or dance class you’ve always wanted to take or join a book club.

I’m not going to tell you how you’ll benefit from playing. I want you to find out for yourself. Because the world may not be changed by your playing, but you probably will be.

Excuse me while I go jump rain puddles.

Dancing

Shadows

| Marie Griffith

It looks like nature had a party and pink confetti was part of the fun. The sun, shadows, and scattered crepe myrtle flowers create a colorful walkway to the front door in the spring.

And all of it makes it beautiful…..the tiny flowers, the bright sunshine, and even the shadows.

Without the shadows, the sun wouldn’t be so……..sunny.

 

 

 

Luminescent

Fun

Image | | Marie Griffith

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My youngest daughter drew this cute and playful unicorn one afternoon on our driveway with her sidewalk chalk. Her artwork lasted several days before an afternoon rain washed it away.

But what fun it was for those few days to see the brightly colored unicorn galloping across the driveway each evening when I came home from work.

 

 
In response to the Daily Post’s Folly.
 

In response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge Fun!.

F is for Fun

Image | | Marie Griffith

In response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge Alphabet.

This photo was taken in a hurry. I barely stopped to take the photo because the people on Beale Street were moving at a certain pace and I felt the need to keep up. BB Kings Blues Club is where we sat and listened to some of the best music ever, ate a wonderful meal, and laughed our faces off. Well not off…..we still have our faces, but you know what I mean.

Last weekend my husband and I, with two other couples went to Memphis, Tennessee for a night. This was out of the ordinary for all of us because sometimes we let the responsibilities of life crowd out the “just for fun” part of life.

All of us have full-time jobs and families. Juggling work, raising families, running small businesses, renovating a home, and all other sorts of happenings in our lives, cause us to forget the importance of spending time with friends.

Last weekend we got away from all the “must do’s” of our lives and enjoyed some time together. We enjoyed the music and food. The lights and activity on Beale Street were exciting. But the laughter we shared was the best part of all.

Laughter is like a balm for a wearied soul. It’s healing and soothing. I encouraged it in my Live Like it Matters Challenge a few months ago in my post called Laugh.

 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.   Proverbs 17:22 NIV

Laughter can also be contagious.

Do yourself and all those around you a favor today and laugh.

Then do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

 

 

Laugh

| Marie Griffith

A happy heart is like good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains your strength.        Proverbs 17:22 NCV

It’s time for another Live Like it Matters Challenge. This week’s challenge is fun for you and those around you.

We all know that laughter is good medicine for the soul. It’s proven to be a great stress reliever with other short-term and long-term health benefits. So this week laugh with someone. If you have to watch the latest episode of The Middle to get your funny bone started then do it. Or watch Jimmy Kimmel’s “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy” pranks. Or search out anything by Tim Hawkins.

The point is to share your laughter with others. Go see a funny movie, or play in the leaves with the little kids and the dog, try to do a headstand, or tell a joke. Be sure to try the headstand against a wall while others watch. I promise you will laugh and so will they just because it’s ridiculous that you’re trying to do a headstand at your age. And only tell a joke if you’re good at delivering the puncpicmonkey_image (2)h line. I’m terrible at this so I won’t be joke-telling as a way to share a laugh. But I can make the funniest faces you’ve ever seen.

Remember, we are laughing WITH others. Do not laugh at others or at their expense. Unless it’s the kids in the Jimmy Kimmel videos.

Or unless you’re my older sister, Marlina, who has ILS. Never heard of it? It’s Inappropriate Laughter Syndrome. She can never seem to hold back uncontrollable bouts of laughter when someone she loves dearly falls or trips or hurts themselves in some way.

Have fun this week as you share your laughter with others.

Good Day at Brushy Lake

| Marie Griffith

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Today Was a Good Day.”

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My youngest daughter and I love to hike in the Bankhead National Forest. We especially enjoy it when it’s cooler. This day was a spontaneous outing, It happens frequently because we are only 20 minutes away from the Sipsey Wilderness and the Bankhead Forest.

There are thousands of trails which we’ve yet to explore but this one at Brushy Lake is one of our favorites. It’s close and easy to reach. The beginning of the trail is paved but we continue the hike until we get deeper into the forest and explore off trail.

Brushy Lake is visited regulary by campers, hikers, lovers, educators, and other fun seekers.

Trinkets

Image | | Marie Griffith
My wooden chest with trinkets and symbols attached.

Several years ago I saw an interesting mailbox. I don’t make a habit of noticing mailboxes but when I walked by this one…..well….that’s the thing. I couldn’t walk by it. My daughter and I stopped and looked at it for a long time. The entire mailbox was covered with a collection of trinkets, shells, shiny things, tiny things, buttons, and all other sorts of fun pieces and symbols.

Since then, I’ve saved my own little charms, jewels, shells and trinkets. I’ve attached the items to a wooden chest and created my own little wonder. I don’t buy the trinkets to use in this project. I use things we have around the house that are no longer needed, or I find the items. All the shells are kindly provided to me by the Atlantic Ocean.

The broken pieces of shells smoothed out by tumbling in the ocean, hearts, bottle caps, and flowers adorn the top. There are rocks, and stars, and bows. Several earrings that lost its other, a lollipop, a snowflake, and a fleur de lis. There’s a butterfly, a horseshoe, a cross, and other tiny things.

I’m still collecting…….it’s a work in progress. Eventually the treasures that I collect and save on the inside will be on the outside. The entire chest will be covered with symbols, charms, and lots of things that sparkle.

Just because it’s fun.

Hike

| Marie Griffith

I took advantage of this lovely afternoon and went for a hike with my youngest daughter at Brushy Lake.

It was beautiful.  And fun!

 

My youngest enjoys hiking too

 

Looking up from the trail.
The sound of the water is soothing.

 

Fun

| Marie Griffith

I have a long list of “must dos”. A longer list of things I need to do. And a short list of things I really want to do. We all have these lists, whether on paper or in our heads.

The long lists take up most of my time. They include the everyday things like be a wife, be a mom to 3 teenagers, and be an accountant at work.  It means at home I do laundry, help with homework, cook dinner, and wash dishes.  At work I figure contracts, reconcile GL accounts and analyze financial statements. That’s already a lot to do.

The other items on the long lists are those that can wait but still need doing.  Like painting behind the toilets because we installed new ones that are shaped differently and now a patch of the old paint shows. We need to paint the garage and organize our closets. We need to fix the backdoor.  I need to have my oil changed and the tires rotated.

But what about that short list?

Running a 5K is on my short list. I want to fly somewhere with each of my kids and hike in the Bankhead National Forest at least 10 times this year. My husband and I want to see the Northern Lights. I want to learn sign language and Spanish and do some ballroom dancing. These things don’t need to be done and as one of my favorite authors, Mark Buchanan, put it, the world isn’t changed by my doing them or not.  

But I need to play. You need to play. Because we need a break from the ever growing “to do” list.  

Because of the chores and responsibilities and deadlines the short list tends to get shoved under the others. Disregarded as less important. Forgotten about.  

If we’re not careful, adulthood can turn into one big obligation and we forget we need to have fun. We forget how to play. 

If you’ve neglected play for so long and don’t know what to do, start small. Play Go Fish with your kid. Dance in the living room. Fly a kite or jump on the trampoline. Take that cooking class, join a book club, or visit Six Flags again just to ride the roller coaster.

I’m not going to tell you how you’ll benefit from playing.  Or if you will at all.

I want you to find out for yourself.  And then let me know.

How did you play and did something good come from it?

Excuse me while I do some cartwheels in the front yard with my daughter and the dog.

In response to the Daily Post’s daily prompt Nothin’ But A Good Time.