Don’t wait for the funfair, have (even a just little!) fun right now

My mind has been on having fun recently. I’ve been having one of my health down-turns (“treacle-days” as I think of them; days when my head and body feels like they’re sitting in a great big vat of thick treacle) and I’ve been sitting in bed a lot thinking about all the fun I’m going to have when I feel a little bit less so-so.

It’s all too easy to forget to have fun (especially when we’re low on energy)

I realised a while ago how easy it is when we’re limited in terms of energy, but still want to get on with our Important Work, to just swing between working and resting, forgetting to do any of the things that make life fun.

Remember to plan some fun!

The truth of this for me was brought home to me recently when I showed a friend a list of the things I was planning to do this year, things that I was hoping would make life feel easier and more enjoyable, and she pointed out that I hadn’t included having fun at all. I immediately added “have more fun” to the bottom of my list. My friend gently wondered if I could it at the top of my list.

Put fun at the top of the list!

As I crossed it out and carefully rewrote “have more fun” at the top of my list, I immediately felt a surge of guilt, a sure sign, my friend told me, that that was the right thing to do!

So, I’ve been sitting in bed thinking of all the fun I’m going to have when I’m well enough to have some. The galleries I want to visit, the friends I’m going to call to see, the cafes I’m going to have tea and cake in, the days away I’m going to take. I have a great list, I’m sure my friend will be proud of me.

She isn’t. “But what about the fun you can have now,” she asks patiently.

“Now?” I reply. “But I’m not very well now!”

“But isn’t there some some fun you can have now?” she says offering me a grape. “It’s like you’re waiting for the funfair to arrive before you can let yourself have some fun.”

Don’t wait for the funfair!

She’s right of course. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ve replaced not including any fun in my day with, making lists of fun things I’d like to do, but can’t until the funfair arrives, until I think I’m well enough. It’s time to rethink things!

Are you waiting for the funfair to arrive before you can let yourself have fun? Is there some fun (even just a little!) you can let yourself have right here, right now, with things just as they are?

If you enjoyed this post sign up to receive notifications of new posts via email.