There are so many fun activities we can do! Find things that make you laugh and laugh every day. There are always things to complain about, but there are also always things to just delight and wonder in. The cloud is in the paper, and the grandmother is in the child, and the tree is in me, and all of life is an astounding miracle of interbeing! We have an incredible capacity as human beings to create, to bring something new into the world. This is amazing, and we should exercise this creative capacity every chance we get.
So my advice for the new year is have fun, the kind of fun that makes your soul burst open with laughter and pure delight in whatever you just did. Delight in the miracle of life. Do something to shake things up; remind yourself you are alive and that is a miracle. Create something new; learn something new, and not because you have to, but because you can. If you don't know how to have fun, or what to do, spend at least 30 min. playing with a child. Let him or her be in charge. Follow their lead and loosen up your imagination. Try to see through their eyes. Dream.
Some of the most developed and industrial nations are also some of the unhappiest. I believe there is a connection. Too much work, too much seriousness and pressure for perfection and competition, and not enough play. People who spend time with family and friends, engage in meaningful work, rest, and play are much happier. From my time in Latin America one of the big lessons I learned was to celebrate, and celebrate often. So, this year I'm going to add some more play time into my days, and I invite you to join me. We can delight in being human together!
