Who needs more fun in their lives?
I, for one, definitely do. With businesses and babies and responsibilities, and with all of the other stuff that comes from being a grown up, sometimes I get so busy that I forget to take a moment or two for a little fun.
I was hit smack between the eyes with this one a short while ago while working with someone who is going through some really difficult stuff.
She and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for the past 3 years and after investing thousands of dollars in trying to do things “naturally,” they have now opted for IVF. And have used most of their life savings for it. And the first round didn’t work. And now they are on round 2. And it has literally been 3 years of holding their breath for 2 weeks every month followed by the dark emptiness of disappointment of a negative pregnancy test. Month after month after month.
So now for round two of their IVF she needs hormone shots in her butt every night. But here’s the part that whacked me upside the head.
In spite of all of the heartache, heartbreak and disappointment over the last 3 years, and the continued uncertainty they are living in, each night when her husband goes to give her that shot in the butt he puts on his crazy silly mad doctor voice, does a little dance shuffle over to her while waving the needle in the air and saying “Come ‘ere sexy lady… I promise this won’t hurt a bit… wink wink.”
They found a way to make a tough situation fun.
Life gets hard. REALLY freaking hard sometimes. And in those moments, as difficult as it can be, sometimes we need to choose joy. Sometimes we need to create a moment for laughter.
And even when things aren’t as hard. We still need to remember to intentionally choose joy – because joy typically doesn’t just happen on its own.
The other day, one of my dearest friends was telling me how, in their house, whenever one of her 2 small children accomplishes a goal or is successful at completing a task, the whole family crowds around and breaks in to the Arsenio Hall!
Do you remember that guy from the 90’s? That talk show host with the flat topped hair and the freakishly bright coloured suits? Yup, that’s what they do, they all get together and do the “WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!” (complete with the round and around fist pump).
They chose to make a good moment even better. Even more special. Even more fun.
So many of us get so caught up in the go go go, or are running from one thing to the next to the next that we forget to find moments for fun. Moments to laugh. Moments to choose joy.
But we need to, for our goodness sake. The moments are there for the taking, we just need to choose to take them.
And, as an aside, did you know that people who laugh more tend to have higher self-esteem? It’s because people with higher self-esteem decide to be more present in their lives. They have made a habit of working to live more in the now. And when we take time to notice the good that’s around us right here, right now, we can’t help but feel joy.
So on that note, what do you want to do to bring in a little more of the fun to your life? Share with us! We’d love to hear it.
I’m Julia Kristina MA, RCC, an I’m a CBT, Mindfulness, and Positive Psychology registered (aka licensed) therapist, speaker, and on-line course creator out of Vancouver BC.
Come on over and join me on my Facebook Page and give it a ‘Like’ for regular inspiration and weekly live Mental Health and Personal Growth Talks: https://www.facebook.com/juliakristinacounselling/