One of the more difficult things for me to do is to relax and have fun. I like to have fun. I like to relax. But as much as I like to play and relax, I like to work and be productive. I don’t know if it is my personality or my upbringing (certainly not from my mom), but it is difficult for me to have fun.
Those who know me know that this is true. While I do have fun and play, I am often thinking about all the work that I need to do while I am playing. Or… when I am playing something for fun, I get very focused and serious about whatever I am playing. When I am at work, I often have to make a conscious decision to stop what I am doing and listen to, and even harder, join in on a conversation that isn’t related to work. It isn’t that I don’t want to listen to you, but my inward drive to work makes it difficult.
I started this blog mostly writing about living life every day. I tend to gear my posts more toward the serious side as that is my personality. But just as important, and especially for me, more important, is the fun side of life. I look around and see a lot of people that I wish would take life a little more seriously. But then I have to ask myself “why”. Why do they need to take life more seriously… o.k. some people really do need to be a little bit more serious with their life, but some, like me, could stand to lighten up a bit.
Having four kids has been very helpful, especially the younger two. The older two tend to be a little more serious, like me. The younger two are not as much, like my wife. I remember one afternoon in the yard playing ball with the kids. I was getting frustrated with them because they were not playing by the rules and goofing off. As I felt myself getting frustrated, I realized that I was the one that needed to change. What is the point of me being out here playing ball with my kids? None of them had any interest in actually playing the sport competitively. The point was to have fun.
So, as I grow up, I am learning more about what is important. Sometimes we just need to jump in some mud puddles.
