Finding the Fun

That is how I have spent today.  Finding the fun side of things.  For as long as I can remember people have always commented on my sunny disposition.  When the rest of the world sees storms and dark clouds I can generally find a ray of hope to hold on to.  Unfortunately and without taking anything away from it, but a ray of hope is not always what is needed.  Sure it doesn't hurt but every now and then something else is needs to be included.  For me, right now, that something else is fun.

Actually truth be told it is probably not just now that I have needed to (re)introduce fun into my life.  One of my most uncomfortable memories is of a time when those who were supposed to be closest to me referred to me as the fun police.  Sometimes they would break it up a bit and call me the fun spoiler but on the whole they made it quite clear that I did not know how to have fun (in their opinion anyway).  Needless to say these people are no longer in my life and have not been for quite some time but their words still echo through my ears every now and then.

I must add though, in fairness to those I refer to, there was a some justification in what they said.  Compared to the risks that they considered fun and were willing to take I was a bit of a stick in the mud. Back to now though.

While we were away on our Outback Adventure (which I may well mark as a turning point in my life) I took the time to read a book.  Reading is something I have always loved to do.  I love getting lost in a plot and becoming one with the characters with whom the tales are told of.  I love being taken to new places, learning new things, I just love it all.  As most true writers do I imagine.  However as a mother reading is somewhat of a luxury.  Something that for me, rarely occurs.  Now I have a thousand excuses as to why that is, but at the end of the day I stopped making the time to read.  End of story really.

Making time to read while we were on our adventure was easier said than done.  Which considering I was a passenger for some 1700 km's may sound a little strange but I found it difficult to tear my eyes away from the beautiful and ever changing landscape.  I was worried that if I took the time to read then I would miss something in the passing scenery.

Things like this

The rawness of it all.  The sheer emptiness of it all.  A vast nothingness that sucks you in leaving you overwhelmed with all it's beauty.  The freedom of being surrounded by space.  Clear open space that you don't have to share with anyone.  Well nearly.  Every now and then a fellow freedom traveller would pass.  A friendly nod and flick of the finger or hand shared to show the mutual understanding of the rules of the long roads.  Roads that sometimes never seemed to end.

But alas, I have digressed.  As I am learning I tend to do.

Back to finding the fun.  Which is something I am trying to do based on the book I read which if you are interested is called "Play How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul" by Stuart Brown.  The girls school Principal lent it to me nearly three months ago and I am only just getting to it now.  She thought I might like it and boy was she right.  I felt as if it was written with me in mind.  So many parts rang true and left me feeling inspired and ready to take on more.  A feeling I haven't felt for some time.  Actually a long time.

The essence of the book, as the name suggests, is that to feel complete in life we need to ensure that play is a central focus.  Without play we become stagnant and stale.  As Brown says play is somewhat like oxygen.  We need it to survive.

Since play is essentially fun I am actively looking for ways to make my life a little more fun.  For example things that have to be done (like hanging out the washing) can be made fun by adding in little dance like steps and bopping between picking up pegs and hanging clothes on the line.  It almost felt a little like step class practise today as I was hanging out the nappies and lunging rather than reaching for what I needed.  In fact I even did little crossover steps  here and there.  Before I knew it the washing was on the line and I felt great. 

 It is amazing what a little activity can do.  Which is something that Brown brings up regularly in his book.  For those stuck and unable to play or find a fun side to life he suggests that movement is all that is needed and based on my recent experiences I would have to agree.  

Anyway this post has well and truly exceeded my preferred length and I thank you for your attention.  In a world full of so many distractions I appreciate the time you have taken to read my thoughts.  Without pushing the friendship too far can you please click the box below.  I am an egotistical type of gal and I like the thrill of leader boards.