Fun and Me

Well, bungee jumping isn’t my idea of fun; but April Fulton in an NPR article argues that—instead of obsessively seeking happiness—we should concentrate more on fun activities.

Looking back, what endeavors have been fun for me? Well, camping, hiking, and travel come to mind. Fulton maintains that scheduling such activities is important if we’re to actually engage in them.

So, what—specifically—should I put on my calendar? I could drive to the Austin-San Antonio area for some interesting camp sites. I could also travel to Big Bend and camp out in the Chisos Mountains, perhaps hiking up to the South Rim. At age 76, that might be a challenge as such a hike is somewhat strenuous, entailing six miles of upward climb. I’d have to first undertake an exercise program to restore strength and balance lost to old age and sedentary habits. Moreover, I wouldn’t dare go on such a hike without a younger, more vigorous partner to help in case of emergencies like falling in the trail rubble or being bitten by a rattlesnake.

Of course, foreign travel is a lot of fun for me; and my wife and I are in the first stages of planning a trip to Peru, where staying with her relatives would help keep costs down. A lot of the fun of such a vacation is simply speaking Spanish all the time, which—for me—produces a mild exhilaration. In lieu of an actual trip, I guess I could watch Spanish-language TV and travel documentaries in English or Spanish.

And, while New York is not a foreign country, it’s enough different from Texas to make it a fun destination. Visiting Old Chatham Friends is always refreshing. With Covid around, I would even wear a bunny suit to talk face-to-face with Bill and Beverly Thompson. Then, there’s the possibility of going to the North Carolina Conservative Yearly Meeting and seeing Mary Linda McKinney, Mark Wutka, Sarah Miller, and Nat Corwin. While I appreciate the diverse spiritualities of Old Chatham Meeting, the North Carolina group is definitely Christocentric and more in harmony with my own spiritual identity.

If you, Friend, are thinking of putting more fun into your life, perhaps you should follow April Fulton’s advice:

1. Stop worrying about how happy you are.
   
2. Find your ‘fun magnets’ (pastimes you enjoy).
   
3. Put fun on the calendar.
   
4. Unplug (from social media, email, etc.).
   
5. Share the fun with someone (i.e., bungee jump with your wife, girlfriend, etc.).
   

Have enough fun, and you may well find yourself on the road to happiness.

~ Richard Russell