Have Fun

Have Fun. Life Pillar.

Last week, I talked about Fun as a life pillar, and not just the kind that comes from a trip or a party. Indeed, those experiences certainly have their place. But I also mean the kind of fun that reintroduces you back to yourself. And as I sat with that idea, I realized I couldn’t talk about fun in the abstract. I needed to look at where it showed up for me over the past twelve months. There felt a need to identify the real moments, the real joy, the real reminders that I am still alive, still growing, and still worthy of enjoyment.

When I look back over my last twelve months, I’m surprised by how much joy was hiding in plain sight. I didn’t always notice it while I was moving through it, but now I can see the moments where my creativity and my spirit thrived.

1. I got tickets for concerts: Barry Manilow, Diana Ross, Diana Krall, and Smokey Robinson. Each event reminded me of the power of music in my life.
2. There were cruises through Greece, Dubrovnik, and Montenegro, where the world felt wide again and I felt a little more open, a little more curious.

One thing I discovered is that having fun doesn’t always require a companion.  Sometimes it looks like doing something on your own. Taking yourself on an adventure and letting the universe surprise you with what’s possible. I usually cruise alone, and I’m always struck by how many people—especially women—react with disbelief. On my recent trip to Montenegro, a woman quietly pulled me aside and said, “I wish I had the courage to go somewhere alone. I’d be afraid I’d be lonely or wouldn’t know what to do.” Her honesty stayed with me. It made me think about how often we let fear stand between us and the fullness of our own lives. How many experiences we postpone because we’re waiting for someone to join us, approve of us, or make us feel safe. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is show up for ourselves and trust that joy will meet us there.

3. I also experienced simple pleasures, like lunches with girlfriends that left me lighter than when I arrived (not in pounds, of course, but in spirit 😊),
4. Then, there were regular game days with friends, where I laughed more than I expected to. I even won a few times—though not often. Those weren’t just social plans; they were small resurrections of my spirit.

And looking back, I can see the things that brought me joy that I kept postponing because I thought I was “too busy.” But those were the very things that helped me feel like myself again. I even moved a little deeper into my writing. I decided that this year will indeed be the year I finish the first clean draft of my manuscript.

Have Fun. Final Thought

Fun, last year, reminded me that now is the time to get busy living — not waiting. The “perfect moment” may never arrive, and I’m no longer willing to postpone the things that nourish me. That’s why I’m reflecting now. Because last year showed me what truly feeds my spirit, and what I want to make more room for in the year ahead.

Your Turn. Have Fun.

Take a moment to look back at your own last twelve months. Where did fun, joy, or lightness show up for you even in small, unexpected ways? Name it. Honor it. Let it remind you of what you want to make more room for this year. You deserve a life that includes joy, not just responsibilities. In the meantime, explore some new fun ideas whether you’re thinking travel or anything else (See Travel & Leisure, Oprah Daily, AARP, AAA). Check out these we bites for some great fun ideas.

FRANCINE D. WARD, ESQ.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER

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