Life can be fun

How careful and guarded we’ve been with fun, with playing, with sheer enjoyment – whether we’re working, traveling, or wandering around town on a Saturday afternoon. Sometimes we tell ourselves we’re not allowed, or we act as though there’s a limited amount, a scarce supply of fun available.

How can we have fun when others aren’t? We can’t take too much or it’ll all be gone!

Last Saturday I was sitting quietly alone in a coffee shop, waiting for a friend to come and meet me. Although trying not to, I was inadvertently capturing snippets of the conversation between a parent and their child on the table next to me.

At one point the child asked the parent if they could spend the night at a friend’s house to play and have a sleepover. The word “sleepover” began to conjure up all sorts of images and memories from my childhood, so I found myself listening in a little more intently, while forgiving myself at the same time for eavesdropping...

“Why?” the parent asked. I could sense they weren’t keen for this sleepover to happen.

“To have fun” the child responded. I smiled internally, as it seemed like a slam dunk of an answer.

“You just did something fun last night” It was a fast pivot by the parent. 

The child was quiet for a moment before responding,

“Who said you can’t have fun two days in a row?”

Uncontrollably I laughed out-loud, much to the momentary chagrin of the parent I’m sure.

I got up and left quickly, texting my friend to meet me at another location.

If you can, have some fun, with life, with love, with work. 

Then go out and have some more.

____

Andrew