Are We Forgetting How to Have Fun?
I have a saying hanging in my house that reads:
“You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.”
I've walked past that saying countless times, but lately I've been thinking that perhaps I need to pay a little more attention to it!
Because if I'm being truthful, I have a tendency to take life far too seriously.
There's always something that needs doing. Another project to finish. Another goal to reach. Another problem to solve.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, I sometimes forget to simply have fun.
When did that happen?
Think about children for a moment.
They don't need a reason to laugh. They don't worry whether playing is productive or whether they're making good use of their time.
They run, jump, giggle, make up games, and find delight in the simplest things.
Give a child a cardboard box, and suddenly it's a spaceship, a castle, or a secret hideout.
My eight-year-old grandson recently made an exact miniature replica, out of cardboard boxes, of the doghouse my husband had just built for one of our furry friends.
The imagination of a child is a wonderful thing!
And then we grow up.
Life becomes about responsibilities.
We build careers, raise families, pay mortgages, take care of aging parents, and try to keep everything running smoothly.
And those responsibilities are important. They're part of life.
But somewhere along the way, we start believing that every minute needs to have a purpose.
We feel guilty sitting down when there's laundry to fold.
We put off doing something enjoyable because there are more important things to accomplish.
And sometimes, even the things we once loved become another item on our to-do list.
I know that feeling all too well.
I've spent much of my life working, planning, creating, and trying to accomplish something.
And now, in my 60s, I'm beginning a whole new chapter. Writing books, creating wellness resources, painting illustrations, and pursuing dreams I've carried for years.
These are things I genuinely love doing.
But here's what I've noticed.
Sometimes I become so focused on making something successful that I forget why I started doing it in the first place.
I love painting.
I love writing.
I love creating stories about Linus and his adventures at the old school.
But when I start worrying about publishing, sales, deadlines, and whether everything is going to work out, something changes.
The joy can get buried beneath the pressure.
And I have to remind myself that I started doing these things because they made me happy!
Perhaps you've experienced that too.
Maybe you've spent years taking care of everyone else and have forgotten what you enjoy doing just for yourself.
Maybe you've retired and discovered that having more free time doesn't automatically mean you're having more fun.
Or maybe life has been difficult lately, and laughter simply hasn't come as easily as it once did.
I understand that too.
But here's something I've been thinking about.
What if having fun isn't something frivolous? What if it's actually an important part of our wellness?
We talk so much about eating healthy foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
But what about laughter?
What about play?
The other day, our grandchildren invited my husband and me to play kickball in the school gym. We played for a couple of days in a row, and I had forgotten just how much fun that game was!
There was no workout plan, no goal to accomplish. Just running around, playing a game, and enjoying ourselves.
And isn't that what movement should sometimes be about?
Having fun!
Laughter can help ease tension, lift our mood, and strengthen our connections with other people.
And play isn't just for children.
Whether it's playing pickleball, dancing in the kitchen, painting a picture, playing a silly game with the grandchildren, or laughing with a friend until your stomach hurts, those moments matter.
When our family got together for my brother's 60th birthday, we spent time reminiscing about the past and laughing until our sides hurt.
There is something so wonderful about sharing memories and finding humour in the things we've experienced together.
Those moments remind us that life is meant to be lived, not just managed.
Even though my mom has left us for a better place, she continues to teach me little lessons about life.
Mom lived with pain every single day. Yet even in her final days, she continued to exercise, play games, and dance to the live music they had each week.
She didn't wait until she felt better to enjoy life. She found joy right where she was, even on the difficult days.
And when I think about that now, I realize what a beautiful example she left for me.
She didn't let the pain she lived with take away all the joy she could still experience.
What a wonderful lesson to leave behind. ❤️
And perhaps that's especially important as we get older.
I don't want to spend the next 20 or 30 years worrying about everything that might go wrong.
I want to enjoy the years I've been given.
I want to laugh more.
I want to be silly with my grandchildren.
I want to try new things without worrying whether I'm any good at them.
I want to paint simply because I love painting, not because I need to finish another illustration.
And I want to remember that not everything I do has to lead to an accomplishment.
Sometimes the joy of doing it is enough.
One of my favourite things to do is explore.
I love finding a road that looks less travelled and seeing where it takes me. I'm always curious about what's around the next bend or where an unfamiliar road might lead.
The other day, my husband and I went to the RM office to pay our taxes.
As we were leaving, I said, “Well, since we're already in the car, why don't we go exploring?”
So off we went, driving down backroads and discovering more of the beautiful countryside around us.
Nothing planned. No particular destination.
Just the simple joy of exploring.
Yesterday, my husband spent the afternoon building birdhouses with the grandchildren.
And a few days ago, when it was raining, my granddaughters and I decided to go for a long walk.
In the rain!
We laughed, we got soaked, and we had so much fun just being together.
And as I think about those moments, I realize something.
Perhaps I haven't forgotten how to have fun after all. Perhaps I just need to make more room for it in my life.
Now, I'm not suggesting we ignore our responsibilities or pretend that life is always wonderful.
There are seasons of grief, uncertainty, and hardship when laughter can feel very far away.
But I also believe that joy and sorrow can exist together.
We can be carrying something difficult and still find a reason to smile.
We can be waiting for answers and still enjoy the blessings right in front of us.
And we can take life seriously without taking ourselves quite so seriously.
Maybe that's the lesson I need to learn.
So this Wellness Wednesday, I'm giving myself a little challenge, and I'd love for you to join me.
Do something this week just because it's fun.
Not because it's good exercise.
Not because it's productive.
Not because someone needs you to.
But simply because it brings you joy.
Call a friend who makes you laugh. Play a game. Dance to your favourite song. Get outside and do something silly.
Or spend an afternoon doing something you loved as a child.
And don't feel guilty about it!
Because when I think about the kind of person I want to be in my 80s and 90s, I don't just picture someone who is physically healthy.
I picture someone who is still curious, still laughing, still learning, and still finding joy in the little things.
Someone who hasn't forgotten how to have fun.
And perhaps that saying hanging in my house deserves a little more attention.
“You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.”
So let me ask you something.
When was the last time you did something just for the fun of it?
And what would you love to do again? ❤️
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From Wellness Wednesday and Future Self Friday to our adventures renovating and living in an old school, with the Monday at the Old School Series, you'll find a little bit of everything here.
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