Bloganuary writing prompt

List five things you do for fun.

View all responses

• Backpacking- I love getting out in nature for extended time and backpacking means that there will be more nature and less people. 
• Hiking, day- Same as above but I so enjoy the process of hiking and experiencing the earth beneath my feet.
• Good books- I love to read and/or listen to a piece of well written literature. 
• Photography- Capturing photos of nature, animals, and interesting places has always been a way to also capture joy and have a great time.
• Basketball- Playing, watching, discussing, and just being around the sport has brought me such good times ever since I was in second grade. 

Part of the process of developing your list of fun things to do is thinking through the things that bring you fulfillment and joy. Fun could be a pretty shallow concept: think of all that alcohol related fun so many brag about on Monday morning at work or the worlds conquered on the new Xbox game. What would fun look like if it was life-giving, thoughtful and healthy? That is why I think it is valuable to redefine fun with ideas like joy and fulfillment, which may be even more meaningful. 

Over the years, I feel like this practice has broadened my activities and given me a yearning for depth with my leisure activities, as well as just that inclination to escape from work and the tough stuff of life. I watch movies for fun, and will sit at a sports event for fun, but then this is not the only way. My favorite pasttimes now involve good activity and healthy living to accomplish, so this motivates my lifestyle. My choices are helped by the reward of the fun! Healthy living is not just boring, and a barrage of negatives to recite (ie I’m not going to eat cookies, I’m not going to watch the best show ever, I’m not going to have fun playing video games). It can be a journey of fun which is includes exercise, activity, healthy eating, and good habits. You can then say I’m going to hike so need to be in shape, I’m going to surf, so need to go swimming at the Y, etc. 

I love to backpack, so January is a great time to put together a dream trip for July, and then plan monthly hikes to work up to it, with exercise to give me the best odds to have a safe, fun adventure! The payoff will be huge. I can’t wait! I think this year will be an adventure in Olympic National Park… FUN!