Rediscovering Joy: How Fun Transforms Your Everyday Life

Ever wondered why some of your most productive and creative moments come after having fun? We'll let you in on a secret: fun isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity. Join us as we share heartwarming stories of family graduations, cooking for loved ones, and spontaneous mini trips that sprinkle joy throughout our lives. Drawing inspiration from the wise words of Dr. Seuss and Abe Lincoln, we unravel why making time for fun amidst the daily grind can not only balance your life but also bring it to a whole new level of fulfillment.

But it doesn't stop there. We'll guide you on how to be intentional about embedding joy and laughter into your everyday life, rather than leaving it to chance. Imagine a life where you're not just surviving but truly thriving, with a hopeful vision from Isaiah 55:12 painting a picture of joy and peace. This episode is a heartfelt reminder to lighten up, cherish the moments, and prioritize happiness. So tune in, and let's celebrate the beauty of fun together!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:09

Welcome and thanks for tuning in. To Real People, real Talk, relevant conversations that take you from surviving to thriving. This is the podcast that goes there. My name is Paul Calcoat and I'm your host. Now let's talk. When was the last time you laughed and when was the last time you smiled?

Speaker 2: 0:34

When was the last time you let your hair down and just had some good old fashioned fun?

Speaker 1: 0:39

With those reflective questions in mind, it's my pleasure to welcome you to today's conversation that addresses the importance of having fun in your everyday life Because, bae, I firmly believe that life is too short not to enjoy, and I've come to understand that life is meant to be enjoyed and not merely endured.

Speaker 2: 1:03

Carving out time for fun can feel like a luxury we can't afford, but the truth is prioritizing fun is essential for our productivity, creativity and overall well-being.

Speaker 1: 1:13

Exactly because studies have shown that taking breaks, engaging in leisure activities actually aid in our ability to focus and even to think outside of the box. In other words, what I'm trying to say and what I'm trying to convey is this there are personal and professional benefits that we can experience when we give ourselves permission to have fun. So lighten up, my friend. It has been our goal, as you remember, when we talked about this at the beginning of the year. It has been our goal in 2024, and more specifically this summer, to incorporate more fun into our lives. As a matter of fact, in my journal, I dub 2024 as the year of fun. Yes, we're going to give God glory, yes, we're going to be disciplined, but one of the other goals was to have a lot of fun, and so we're going to take a quick trip down memory lane. And so, bay, I want to start with you. What are your top fun moments from this year so far?

Speaker 2: 2:08

So for me it would definitely have to be not too long ago. Last month, may, was graduation season for my family. We had a lot of kids in our family graduate this past year, so it was cool to celebrate them, not like for the birthday, but for an accomplishment that they had did, and so we had graduation parties and you know just different things like that, and so I enjoyed just spending that time with my family and being able to congratulate those graduates on what they were doing. I think another one would be celebrating my grandma and her birthday this year. Just with everything that she has kind of been dealing with health wise, it was cool to all come together and kind of celebrate her in a very big way, because she is such a big part of our lives, and so we just wanted to shower her with love and, just, you know, show her how uh love she truly is, and so, um, and in that same weekend we got to see our nephew play basketball or just run up and down the court.

Speaker 2: 3:16

I don't know about playing basketball, but, um, he definitely ran up and down the court and he had on a basketball jersey. So go three, go, go um, and so that would be a another one for me as well. So I mean, I might really have to deal with being near my family.

Speaker 1: 3:31

So I know I agree with all of those that I had. I had fun at those moments as well. What I would add to that is when my parents and my aunt and uncle they came to visit us in march and I was able to cook for them and usually I always go home and my parents barbecue for me, but this time I was able to barbecue for them, make my famous ribs and mac and cheese and baked beans some family recipes, and it was cool the roles reversed and cooking for them and that was fun. And also they would take my parents to their first NBA game and they were just special for me to do that for my parents and just see them take it all in and experience the big city of Houston. So really enjoyed that and then just attending more Houston Rockets games this season even though you know, we didn't make the playoffs.

Speaker 1: 4:14

It wasn't that good. Well, shout out to the hometown team. And lastly, before I move on, was a mini trip to Dallas.

Speaker 2: 4:22

Yep, yep, yep.

Speaker 1: 4:23

Yep Came to support her coach area when she was coaching volleyball and in between games she was able to take in some new foods, new sceneries and just have some fun.

Speaker 2: 4:34

Yeah, you.

Speaker 1: 4:35

And, of course, before we get too far into this episode, babe, could you please give the people some scripture to guide our time today?

Speaker 2: 4:43

Yes, sir, ecclesiastes 2 and 24. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God. John 10 10 says the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. And I have come that you may have life and have it to the full yes.

Speaker 1: 5:08

and both of these scriptures. They really speak to the idea of enjoying the life that God has given us while here on earth. Now for a few quotes related to the topic of fun. First one is from Dr Seuss.

Speaker 2: 5:21

Fun is good.

Speaker 1: 5:23

I love this simple yet profound quote because it reminds us that fun is inherently positive and beneficial, thus implying that engaging in enjoyable activities brings happiness, fosters creativity and contributes to our overall well-being. What's the next one, babe?

Speaker 2: 5:42

The next one is in the end. It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years, Abe Lincoln.

Speaker 1: 5:51

This quote really encourages us to focus on living a fulfilling life rather than merely counting the years. It also suggests that the quality of our experiences and the amount of joy and fun that we have is truly what matters in the long run. So, without any further ado, with these scriptures and with these quotes in mind, let's delve deeper into the reasons why having fun is essential to your well-being.

Speaker 2: 6:18

In our fast-paced world, it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often prioritize work responsibilities and productivity for getting to make time for the simple pleasures of having fun. Some of us call this adulting, yeah.

Speaker 1: 6:47

So don't get so caught up in making a living and don't get so caught up in your to do list that you neglect to enjoy the gift of life that God has so graciously given you. And, if I'm being honest, I don't want to look back at my year and look at how I spent my time and only see that all I did was work and pay bills. Life is so much more than that, and having fun isn't a luxury but a necessity, meaning that we all need it and we all deserve it, and I want you to soak this in you deserve to have fun.

Speaker 2: 7:14

And research has shown that laughter and enjoyment has numerous benefits for our physical, mental and emotional health, as the Bible says in Proverbs 17, 22, that a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

Speaker 1: 7:33

Amen to the word of God. Fun impacts us in various aspects of our lives. First, we want to address and explore the physical benefits of having fun. Let's go there, all right.

Speaker 2: 7:44

The physical benefits of having fun. Let's go there right All right. When we engage in activities that bring us joy, our bodies release endorphins, the feel-good hormones that reduce stress and boost our mood. Fun activities also promote relaxation and lower blood pressure, contributing to our overall health.

Speaker 1: 8:02

I am a witness to this. Normally, after having a fun day or engaging in a fun activity, I just simply feel better. We most recently felt this with a visit to Louisiana, Mississippi. We was able to see both sides of our family I think this was Memorial Day and we was eating good, cracking a lot of jokes, just making some good memories and the car ride home had lasting effects of that fun. It was a ride home that was full of joy and gratitude. We kind of just conversed and talked about all the fun that we had while with family and, um, babe, what was the most fun that you had that weekend?

Speaker 2: 8:40

um, it would definitely have to be my little cousin graduation party.

Speaker 1: 8:44

Oh, yeah, that was dope.

Speaker 2: 8:46

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we had a great time and it just really was refreshing for us as a family just to be able to celebrate something as big as you know graduating and we were all together and it was special just because of, you know, the trials that Delaney had to go through whenever she was younger. So just to celebrate her and where she has gotten to and where she's come from, and to be able to just celebrate her and just everything, it was just awesome.

Speaker 1: 9:25

I enjoyed it most definitely in, and life is about making memories, and I just had a good time too.

Speaker 2: 9:33

But moving on, the benefits of having fun extend beyond the physical realm. Mentally, fun activities stimulate our creativity and problem-solving skills. They provide a break from the monotony of daily routines, allowing our minds to recharge and refresh.

Speaker 1: 9:51

Exactly, and furthermore, I actually feel quite fancy saying. Furthermore, I feel like Shakespeare, but furthermore, fun is a powerful antidote to stress and can even aid in preventing burnout. When we are immersed in enjoyable activities, our bodies release endorphins as we talked about dopamine, serotonin, which not only boost our mood but also reduces the level of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. According to studies, this is such a natural stress relief that can have profound effects on our mental and physical health, from improving our sleep quality we need that Strengthen our immune system. We need that. The benefits of having fun are virtually endless. So have more fun in your life, my friend. And closely related to the mental side, having fun also helps us out emotionally as well.

Speaker 2: 10:44

Because having fun strengthens our relationships and fosters a sense of connection with others. Whether it's sharing a laugh with friends or enjoying quality time with loved ones, fun activities create bonds that uplift and support us during challenging times.

Speaker 1: 11:00

Alluding to the fun weekend that we just talked about, that we had with family. I feel a closer connection with them, just spending that time with them, making memories, having fun, and our relationships are closer because of that fun you know, quality time that we spend together.

Speaker 2: 11:15

And we even experienced this personally after our date nights. As we have fun together, our bond naturally grows.

Speaker 1: 11:22

So, all in all, fun is crucial to our overall well-being and has, you know, has benefits physically, mentally, emotionally and even relationally, as bonds and connections can grow deeper as you engage in fun activities together. Now we want to get personal and practical and we're going to share a few ways that we have fun in hopes of sparking ideas for you to have fun. Bae, I'll start with you what do you like to do for fun? What are those activities that bring you joy?

Speaker 2: 11:53

um so a few things that bring me joy is besides spending time with me, of course yes, yes, of course that was my number one.

Speaker 2: 12:01

Um, other than that, sleeping brings me joy. Binge watching Netflix shows brings me joy. Finding the game scent in different detergents and the power wash in just different household items Finding the game scent, that finds me joy, especially when I can find it, because some of them are. It's a hot commodity. Um, volleyball brings me joy, you know, just having that hobby brings me joy. Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, tick tock. Listen, I was trying to leave tick tock off, but it does bring me joy, it does hey, ain't nothing wrong with that For myself.

Speaker 1: 12:49

if you're an avid listener of the podcast, you may know a few things that I'm going to say, but playing basketball once or twice a week brings me joy.

Speaker 1: 12:58

Watching basketball, I try to watch several games throughout the week During the season. Most time I will be watching these while on a treadmill, so I'm having fun and I'm also getting to work out um date nights with you. Of course, babe, that's always fun, whether it's going out to eat, um, trying a new restaurant or going to an old favorite, such as chili's, and getting a triple dipper shout out to the triple dipper, uh. Whether it's a trip to the mall or just exploring downtown houston, watching a movie, bowling and so more. These are just some of the things that we find fun and we encourage you to find what works for you. Be intentional in adding those things into your schedule so that you can have more fun and enjoy your everyday life. My friend, whatever those things are that bring you joy, schedule those things into your life. We're going to bring it right on home and just kind of talk about how can we prioritize having fun in our lives.

Speaker 2: 13:55

Well, it truly starts with embracing a playful mindset and being open to new experiences.

Speaker 1: 14:01

Be open. That's good. I'm so glad you brought that up. It's really important to be open to new experiences because sometimes you don't know what you like until you try it, and so you may have an idea of fun and it's okay with doing that and doing those hobbies. But leave some room for mystery, leave some room for spontaneity and try new things and see how fun that could be as well.

Speaker 2: 14:22

Whether it's trying a new hobby, exploring nature or simply indulging in our favorite pastimes, let's make time for the activities that bring us joy.

Speaker 1: 14:32

Another thing that I think is worth noting is that we need to throw out this idea, throw out this notion and this myth that fun is only for children and that notion that fun is only for special occasions or holidays or birthdays. A personal goal of ours is to have fun throughout the week. We don't simply postpone our fun or even postpone our days to the weekend. We like to have a midweek day night as well.

Speaker 2: 15:00

Yes, because fun is for everyone, regardless of age or circumstance. It's about finding moments of delight and wonder in the ordinary moments of life.

Speaker 1: 15:12

At the end of the day, the day got to end. At the end of the day, having more fun is your responsibility. I want to encourage you to have more fun, to smile more, to laugh more, lighten up and enjoy this one life that God has given you.

Speaker 2: 15:33

It's not something that you should put off, and it's not something that you can delegate to others. So be intentional and carve out more fun in your everyday life.

Speaker 1: 15:43

For sure, and here's our hope, and here's our prayer for you, found in Isaiah, chapter 55, verse 12.

Speaker 2: 15:50

You will live in joy and peace and the mountains and hills will burst into song and the trees of the field will clap their hands. Oh gosh.

Speaker 1: 16:09

Until next time, don't forget to laugh, to play and have fun in a christ-honoring way and we out.