Doing it for the fun and joy of it
When I want to do something daring, and I hear that familiar doubt creeping in, telling me I may not be good enough or question who am I to do that special “thing” (whatever it is), I resort by saying, “do it for the fun and joy of it”, just because I can, just because it’s part of my human experience, and why the heck not. What I realized is by tweaking this thought just a tiny bit it takes the pressure off of the “significance or self-importance” I impose in thinking about doing whatever that something is, and places experiencing the human journey at the forefront.
We are all human. We all have the ability to dream and aspire, no matter what those dreams and aspirations are, whether grand or small. We may not want to be the Ghandi’s of the world, but we each have a need to express something that could possibly make an impact on another person’s life. In the Jewish tradition, it’s called Tikkun Olam, stating that if you make a difference in one person’s life, it’s like healing and repairing the entire world.
We wouldn’t get out of bed if we didn’t have the desire or will to live and to accomplish something through our human experience. Each and every day presents a new opportunity to think and be a certain way, and “do” things, because we are alive, and I believe because our spirit wants to enjoy having a human experience through us.
In writing my new book, “What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspirational Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life”, I thought to myself why not me to write this book? I’ve been wanting to write a book my whole life (have you had those thoughts too?). Then I thought, why not just write the book for the fun and joy of it, without expectation, and express whatever wants to come out, even if I didn’t know the outcome. If I didn’t write it and died in the next moment, I would be really mad at myself that I didn’t give myself the opportunity to have that experience of being a published author. I can now say that with such great pride, that at 71 years old, I’m a newly new published author, and my grandchildren are so proud of me.
I believe that life is made of moments of experiences, strung together like pearls of wisdom on a necklace that make up a full life. If we rob ourselves of having the experiences we actually want, then what’s the point? A wise sage, Rabbi Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Those words always ring true when I am faced with “doing” something that I’ve been “thinking” about for so long.
If you have something you want to do, but limiting thoughts hold you back, then remove the significance and self-importance of it, and do it for the fun and joy of it. A friend of mine told me she was always the one to reach out to her sister and her sister never reached out to her. I suggested she reach out for the fun and joy of it, just to let her sister know she was loved, without expectation, and when she did, she healed their relationship. You’ll see that when you lighten up the reason you are doing something without expectation in return, you’ll enjoy the experience more, and even accomplish whatever it was that you wanted in a very enjoyable way.
I hope this concept illuminates, inspires and touches you to take an action on something that you have wanted to do, but held yourself back because you thought you may not be “smart enough”, “good enough,” or any of the “not enough-ness” thoughts that have kept you from living your dreams and expressing your talents and gifts. Whose life are you living anyway, someone else’s or yours?
Doing “it” for the fun of it is fun and enjoyable! And, really, what is life all about if we can’t have fun and enjoy doing what we are doing? Whether it’s cooking in the kitchen, washing the dishes, serving food, cleaning up, organizing your office or writing an article. I’m not saying that every job is fun-filled, like our first responders or healthcare workers in doing what they do, however, just the act of giving, of bringing love into the experience is enjoyable. I’m talking about our creative sense that wants and needs to express itself through our own uniqueness, through our own human experience.
There is only one you in this entire universe, so if you have hidden dreams and desires wanting to come out, let them come out and play. Let 2021 be your year to express yourself in ways you didn’t dare before. Just do it for the fun and joy of it and see what happens.
I would love to hear what happens when you practice this new way of being. My email is shelleywhiz@gmail.com. Happy Holidays. Happy New Year. May 2021 be your time, just like Rabbi Hillel said.
