When did I stop being fun?

When did I stop being fun?

Last week, I wrote about finding "stabs of joy" and focusing on the "liturgy of the little things" as we enter this busy season. No question, it's important work to focus on the bright spots.

One of the bright spots for me recently has been that I have finally discovered a course of treatment to help with the vertigo I've been struggling with all year. (More to come on that doozy of a story soon!) The short story is that I HAVE TO spend less time on screens and in books... and that's been its own embarrassing journey. I didn't realize how often I reached for my phone. Seriously.

When my attention is focused on my phone,
I'm distracted from my intention to be present.

(And, no, this isn't a lecture coming, it's just my own Captain Obvious moment.)

This week, I listened to a great episode of the Everything Happens podcast from Kate Bowler (who I adore) featuring Catherine Price, who wrote How To Break Up With Your Phone and The Power of Fun. In the episode, Catherine gave a prompt to consider before you pick up your phone: WWW

What For?

Why Now?

And, What Else?

Trust me, asking those questions will cut down your screen time, fast.  Finding myself with this non-screen time, I realized ... I'm not fun anymore.  All I could think to do that didn't include a screen or a book was... chores. Chores, seriously?! That is definitely NOT fun.

It made me wonder, was I playing too small looking for these micro-moments in stabs of joy and little things? Maybe I need to play bigger and focus on FUN?!?

As soon as I thought about that, I felt...tired. I barely have the time or energy to notice the tiny stabs of joy already all around me, how in the world would I amp up my game to do something FUN again?!?

And then, Catherine Price said,

"Fun is a feeling, not an activity."

Ah, yes! Read that again.

How often do we say things like, "Let's go do something fun." or "Let's have some fun." I am at capacity to add another activity, but I'm not at capacity to feelsomething!

And, as it turns out, there is a formula for what creates true fun: Playfulness, Connection, and Flow.

As we enter this holiday season with all of its "to do" lists, create a feeling of fun where you can!