When was the last time you had fun?

When was the last time you had fun? I mean really great fun…fun, which lets you forget your worries, your stresses at work and all the other bits that seem to stop us from enjoying our life. The sort of fun which lets you be fully in the moment with no unnecessary thoughts about how things could be different. The Buddhists call this experience “unconditional acceptance of whatever arises in the moment”…a state of complete acceptance, with whatever life throws at us.

In the midst of our busy, occupied lives, we forget how important it is to have fun. We are not putting our wellbeing before other commitments. Instead we create “To-Do Lists“, which structure and organise the seemingly overwhelming chaos of our lives. We tick the box and move onto the next task at hand. It seems easier this way and it helps us to regain a sense of control and structure, at the same time establishing a sense of accomplishment.

Unfortunately though, “having fun” is mostly not on our list, we just don’t associate the feeling of well-being and relaxation with something which needs our ongoing commitment. And this is indeed a sad truth.

In all my years of working with people from various backgrounds and situations, the question “What are you doing for yourself?” stays mostly unanswered. People often say that caring for themselves feels like they are being selfish, when in fact it is the complete opposite. More often than not we fail to realise, that when we are healthy and happy, we are of most benefit to others.

Sometimes all that is truly needed is a change of perspective, a shift in the way we look at ourselves and our lives.

So next time you feel like life is nothing but a hard road, plastered with obstacles, ask yourself the question:  “Am I having enough fun in this short life of mine?”

–Denise Reichenbach is a counsellor and educator with Relationships Australia Queensland–