Got fun?

When was the last time you did something purely to have fun or learn something new? One of the most enjoyable things to watch is to watch a child learn something for the first time. They go through this process of excitement, curiosity, and learning that is so enjoyable to watch and experience. As children, this excitement and learning is something that makes the world so interesting. Everything is new and exciting when we are small and discovering things for the first time.

Over time, we start to narrow our activities and create hobbies that bring us joy and showcase our skills. We start to become productive members of society in whatever shape that takes in our lives and for some that means starting to limit the activities that we engage in. In some ways, this allows us to become skilled and develop areas of expertise. In other ways, this limits our experiences to predictable habits that require less thought and creativity. There can be a narrowing process that takes place; a narrowing of activities and thus a narrowing of mind.

As we learn something new, our mind expands and we develop parts of ourselves that perhaps were not as developed as parts of ourselves that have solidified over time. Expanding our experience increases our understanding of ourselves in different roles. What is it like to take on the role of an observer? Do you enjoy being challenged with something new? How does it feel to learn? We begin to develop answers to these questions as we expand our experience and further develop our sense of self.

While it can be meaningful to develop aspects of ourselves that feel familiar such as reading books we enjoy, listening to music we like, watching the same type of television shows, and eating the same types of foods, experiencing new meaning forces us to learn about the world around us and further develop our meaning in life. We become more complex. Our brains develop new pathways. We challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone and become curious about life in the childlike way that brought so much joy. It may be uncomfortable at first, but what awaits you past the discomfort?

While it is natural for a maturation process to occur over time and development, when was the last time you engaged in a new activity purely for fun? What was it like? And if the answer is no, then I ask you why not? Maybe this week you read a book from a different genre, try a new pose in your yoga session, or take a different route on your daily walk with your dog. Learning and expanding your experience does not necessarily mean learning a skill or taking up a new hobby, but allows for you to experience newness in the world around you. When we open ourselves up to new experiences, we allow ourselves to learn, grow and experience new emotions. When we open ourselves up to new experiences we allow ourselves to live.