Going through the grind is sometimes a necessary thing, but that can’t be all that you do. If you really want to add some spunk to your life, you’ll need to keep your fun-bucket full. Turning everyday situations into opportunities to learn and grow is what this is about. Start being a better person by having more fun.
This post is part of a 14 part series on How to Be a Better Person. I’ve also super-duper fancied this group of posts up into an Amazon Kindle book. Check it out: Forget Perfect, Just Be Better: 101 Simple Ways to Grow in Relationships, at Work, in Life, and Through God.
1) Drive-Thru Fancy
Some say to fake until you make it. Some say to make it until you break it. I say to go right in and take it! Okay well, not literally.
But think about this for a second. Why do we take pictures of animals at the zoo? Is it to job our memories later? Have evidence of our awesome adventure out? Capture the beauty that’s always flowing in nature? Yes, yes, and yes.
Apply the memory capturing philosophy to your journey to enjoy life more, too. Do you get sad around rich people and their awesome stuff? Or do you bless them and appreciate the evidence that hard work really does pay off?
Drive through the richest and fanciest part of town and just let it all soak in. Check out those awesome topiaries as you stroll by in your car. See how many Lamborghini’s and Bentley’s you can spot. Celebrate the beauty that comes with focused effort and energy.
It’s possible for anyone. You’ve got the proof now.
2) Get Your (New) Game On
As I was growing up there were only two board games we could play: Monopoly and Life. We’d play monopoly when we had eight hours to burn and life when we wanted to play with little toys that wouldn’t fit properly.
Did you know there are hundreds of boards games you’ve never heard of before that absolutely blow Monopoly and Life out of the water? Neither did I until I ran across a collector and this website he recommended to me: http://boardgamegeek.com/
Make it your mission to find a new board game to bring into your home. Try Lost Cities. It’s super-quick, super-addictive, and simple.
Start playing games no one’s ever heard of.
3) Get Your (Old) Game On
Ever sit around and day dream about your best playground experience? How about the first time you won a game of Go Fish! Did picking up that last jack, as your friend looked over in disappointment, give you a sense of accomplishment? Those are some great memories right there.
On a similar note, when’s the last time you actually played Monopoly or Life? Or how about Mouse Trap, Sorry, Backgammon, Othello, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Risk, or Guess Who? These are some of the staples of childhood gaming.
Go out there, find the oldest board game you have, and gather enough people to play. Send out the invites, grab some snacks and drinks, and have the best dang “Board Game Throw Back Party” you ever had.
Play and live, my friend. Play and live.
4) Make Bad Movies Good
Where you ever stuck in a situation you just couldn’t stand? Something like your car broke down, tire popped, headlight got busted, and it’s raining? There’s not much you can do in that situation other than throw your hands up and let the chips fall where they may. Or you can choose to make it more than it is.
It’s the really low and frustrating times when we can truly start growing. It isn’t until we’ve been thrown into the fire and are rolled around a bit that we finally see what really matters in our lives. I don’t want you to purposefully pop your tires to learn a lesson, but there are good opportunities you can safely create yourself.
Go see a movie and I mean pick the worst one you can. Every movie you’ve ever seen been a total winner? How about grabbing ”Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2” (2004). Watch it with a completely open mind knowing, for a fact, that it will absolutely stink to high Heaven. Choose to make it fun while you watch. You might even try doing what the Mystery Science Theater 3000 [LINK] folks do.
Safely and purposefully experience the bad so you can find the good.
5) Playground Flashback
There’s nothing like sitting at the top of a bright yellow slide, hanging on for dear life, as your knuckles go white in anticipation. The line behind you is piling up and you know you have to go, but you just want one more minute to soak it all in. You push off and spiral down, wind rushing by your face, feeling like a true dare-devil. Do you miss the playground days?
The routine of daily operations can wear on you from time to time. Sure, bills and responsibilities are priority, but do they have to be the only things that get attention? You mind, and soul, need that extra boost of play-time to recover. There’s nothing like breaking the grind for a few hours to really recharge your batteries.
Go to a playground nearby and just play. Afraid you’ll be a little embarrassed? Bring a kid if you need an excuse. Surely you’ve got a relative that could use a babysitter for an hour or so. They’d love the offer. While you’re at the playground, be sure to swing above the bar.
Relive those peak playground experiences and put life into perspective.
6) Cheer Leading
Have you ever done something you thought was one heck of an awesome accomplishment, but there was no one around to share it with? Or maybe those who were around cared just a little less than you did? Sometimes, your accomplishments can be drowned out by all of life’s noise and by the competition of others.
When you continue to neglect the good feelings that come with being recognized for doing great work, the effect begins to dull. When the effect dulls, the motivation can dwindle. You’ve got to keep that motivation up and practicing the happy-dance portion of getting stuff done can help, even if you aren’t the one who made the goal.
Go watch local sports at a nearby park or field. Pick a side and really get into the game. It’s best if you don’t know anything about the teams or the sport for that matter. Just keep cheering and do it liberally.
Enjoy in the accomplishment process and cheer like no tomorrow.
7) Just Browsing
There are two types of people when it comes to shopping. Those that hate it and those that love it. Chances are the people who hate it will just grumble around like mad or rush through the whole process as quickly as possible. On the other hand, those that love it will enjoy every last hour of shopping and sometimes without regard to costs.
I say don’t be either type for a while. Consider being the person that is inspired by shopping instead. Be someone who is intimately interested in the quality and construction of things our there. Really inspect stuff and try to figure out how it was made. Picture the workers or machines that assembled the goods and get a good feel for the whole manufacturing process.
Go to a high-priced clothing, furniture, or electronics store. Browse, use, and gawk at the most awesome stuff you can find. Make it a point to not buy anything. Just observe and live it up.
Understand and appreciate the details without hitting the extremes.
8) If You Build It
There’s just something about the sandy part of beach that’s majestic. You’ve got tons of waves rolling in, minute upon minute, shaping the sand into a wonderful walkway. Adding just enough water and work to make for a smooth surface and cool touch. If you stand there long enough, you can even feel the wet sand begin to hug your feet a little tighter as you slowly sink in. And the best part? This is the best stuff to make castles from.
Being surrounded by powerful forces all day and every day can make you feel out of control at times. Your boss, certain family members, mortgage companies, insurance agents, and even government officials can tend to suck the feeling of self control right out of you. It isn’t until you can really learn to shape the moldable pieces in life that their influence begins to lessen or have a lighter effect.
Go to the beach and 0pick the nicest spot you can find. Feel that hot and powerful sun beat down on you, use and appreciate the powerfully waves crashing in, and gather the millions of pieces of sand around to make the best dang sandcastle ever. Experience and use the influence of the powerful forces around you to create something really special. Take a picture of it. Now smash it to bits.
Learn to use the external influencers to regain control.
8 Ways to Become a Better Person by Having Fun:
- Drive-Thru Fancy
- Get Your (New) Game On
- Get Your (Old) Game On
- Make Bad Movies Good
- Playground Flashback
- Cheer Leading
- Just Browsing
- If You Build It
Now get out there a be a better you! :)
Want to get the whole series in a convenient ebook? Check it out: Forget Perfect, Just Be Better: 101 Simple Ways to Grow in Relationships, at Work, in Life, and Through God