FEBRUARY BLOG - Appreciation & Fun

                                                                            Illustration by Miki Howenstein

                                            Explore a winter wonderland—one way to be good to yourself
​                                                                    February 27 (in the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

Many of us in today’s world have either become so busy, or so bored with our lives, that we have forgotten how to have fun. For others, having fun seems like “a waste of time,” preventing us from doing more “important” things. Yet, this is exactly what we need in order to enjoy life, rather than feel burdened by it. By having something to look forward to (every day), our lives become touched with joy and excitement. 

Having fun is good for our health, in that it makes us forget our worries. Also, during that time, the mind is relaxed and able to gain a new perspective, which may give us insights that make our lives more fulfilling. Most importantly, having fun means that you value yourself enough to treat yourself well. The best thing you can do for others, for your work, for your life is to be good to yourself. (David Howenstein, “The Importance of Having Fun,” Jambo International, October 2013, http://jambointernational.org/en/2013/10/08/3919/.)

JR: Religion and spirituality often emphasize doing good to others. While this is surely important in order to bring a deeper joy and contentment into your life, it is impossible to do so without first doing good to yourself. Unfortunately, this is difficult for some people because of their sense of guilt or having been told that they are unworthy. Being good to yourself is not selfish, but rather is a first step in being able to be good to others.

PP: Decide on something that you will do later today that you can look forward to. See how it makes you feel better throughout the day.

PA: I need a routine to bring good things periodically into my day, mainly to give me a boost. These are my favorites:

• Breathing meditation to cultivate appreciation and focus
• Getting early morning sunlight to awaken body and soul
• Read books to inspire me throughout the day.
• Exercise to get my natural drugs (dopamine et al)
• Have coffee (to wake me up) or beer (for relaxing)

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