Fun is Where You Find It
I was at a very low point in my life. My marriage and our business fell apart when my ex-husband’s bi-polar disorder reared its ugly head, and he began self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. Everything to me was very dark, and I couldn’t imagine ever having fun or finding happiness again.
One day, I had an epiphany while I was reading a story, about not having enough of the F Word in your life. No, I don’t mean “that” word, I mean fun. Each day, I challenged myself to think of at least 3 things I had to be grateful for. They could be simple things like a beautiful sunset or enjoying watching one of my cats gleefully toss and play with a toy.
I started to treat myself to a funny movie with popcorn once a week. I went hiking and eventually I got a couple of dogs. One of the dogs, a lost field golden my friend found, I named Rhett. He was like the Tigger of the dog world. To him the whole world was all about play and life was meant to be fun. This was not open for discussion.
I realized that fun can be simple things like sharing a laugh with a friend or co-worker or taking a walk outside. Fun is where you find it.
Carol Newman works at Everett Community College and occasionally provides fun for Ariele (Sharing Stories host) with her pieces and emails. This piece reminds Ariele of the Helen Keller quote, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
SHARING STORIES is featured on http://www.northwestprimetime.com, the website
for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit http://www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type “sharing stories” or a writer’s name into the search function above.
