Fun as an antidote to difficult times 

Glimmers and gratitude are great, but fun is where it’s at. Fun is changing my daily experience one small moment at a time.  Fun is something that I actively seek and it brings joyful sparks to the day. It can be playing hide and seek with the dog, or putting sprinkles on my ice cream. It means being open to trying something new, like a flavour of tea or scent of soap.  It can even be dancing in the kitchen to my favourite tune while I wait for the dinner to cook. When I hear myself say, “That could be fun,” I give it a try. 

Fun Isn’t Frivolous

When a dear friend suggested seeking fun, I wondered if it would seem frivolous and self-involved as a goal. However, when I thought about it I realized that I was wrong. I can feel both disappointed and hopeful. I can feel both excited and anxious. I can feel devastated by the state of the world, and happy to watch silly cat videos. One emotion doesn’t make it impossible to feel the other one. 

Fun: Antidote To Despair

Knowing this has allowed me to give myself permission to have fun. In difficult times, it’s ok to have a little fun. In fact, it may be more necessary than ever for my mental health and those around me. We need lots of fun to counteract the heavy emotions that we’re experiencing. Fun keep us in balance.

Fun Combines Well With Gratitude and Glimmers

Fun builds on itself when I combine it with a gratitude practice and the use of glimmers. At the end of the day, I remember the moments of fun that I’ve had and feel grateful for them. That gratitude squeezes more fun from the experiences. My brain experiences the joy a second time. A gratitude practice has been shown to reduce depression, lessen anxiety, support heart health, relieve stress and improve sleep.* 

A glimmer is a positive experience that you take the time to savour while it’s happening. While I’m having fun, I enjoy the moment. According to a USA Today 2022 article, “The concept of glimmers is that recognizing small, positive moments over and over can begin to shape our system. This shift to recognizing the bright side can have a beneficial impact on our mind and health.”** Fun experienced as a glimmer and reflected on with gratitude is a powerful, positive, boost for my brain.

You Have Full Control Of Fun

Finding fun is active. Unlike the passiveness of hoping for a glimmer to happen, or waiting for something to have gratitude for, you can seek the fun. It’s within your power to create it every day. You can skip a stone into the water.  You can build a snowman. You can have some fun if you want to. You’re in control.

This year, I wanted to create a more joyful life, but that seemed like an unattainable state of being, especially with all the terrible news in the world. I’ve accepted that in difficult times, it’s ok to have a little fun. In fact, it may be more necessary than ever for everyone’s mental health. It’s an imperative counterbalance.  I choose to find small moments of fun, and magnify them with gratitude. With fun, life is more joyful.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on finding fun. Comment below.

*https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/health-benefits-gratitude

**https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2022/03/23/glimmers-opposite-triggers-mental-health-benefits/7121353001/

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