| The Permission to Have Fun Challenge |
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| Denise D. Ryan | |||
| Wednesday, 10 June 2009 | |||
  I am doing something today that is out of character for me. I am going to the movies in the middle of a weekday. (You have no idea how wild an idea this is for me - I mean, clearly I should be working. Or networking or something!) There is nothing even remotely productive about going to see X Men Origins: Wolverine at 2:45 pm on a Friday afternoon.But I'm going to do it. And I think you should do something fun today too. Something you can't even rationalize as being productive in any way. (If not today, by midnight tomorrow.) I seem to think that the harder I am on myself the greater the payoff will be down the road. And while I believe firmly that hard work and discipline is rewarded and is the way to go 99.99% of the time, I know that the real juice of life is in the fun. While I adore my work and find it infinitely rewarding, my best memories are of trips to new places, conversations with friends, and random acts of silliness. And these are all the things I tend to shut out of my life in favor of productivity. I had a great first quarter - so far 2009 is ahead of 2008. (Will it continue? Who the hell knows?) I know it won't if I don't radiate health and joy. And who radiates joy? People who are having fun! Here's my challenge to you: I want you to do something between now and midnight tomorrow that makes you feel a little guilty. I want you to be a little bad. I want you to commit a little sin in your own eyes. Let me give you some examples (you'll need to pick the one that resonates with you):
You know this list could go on forever - and it will be different for everyone. I guess the bottom line is that we just don't allow ourselves to live enough. Emerson said "We're always getting ready to live and never living." We want to wait until we have more time or more money or lose 15 pounds. Stop waiting! I want you to live a little this weekend. The world won't end, you won't go broke or get fat or lose control. You deserve some joy and fun - but you have to give yourself permission first. If you let this life go by and don't push your own guilt/fun envelope, you'll only have yourself to blame.
Disclaimer: Harmonious Living is written for and read by a community of individuals with strong and independent opinions. While the publishers of Harmonious Living are dedicated to providing a forum in which views can be openly expressed, those views do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.
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