The Benefits of Fun-Raising

"Today is good. Today is fun Tomorrow is another one." -- Dr. Seuss

I recently saw a meme that said something to the effect of: "After careful consideration, I decided this being an adult thing is not working out for me." Of course the humor in it is that most of us can relate. Sometimes that desire just to be a kid again finds its way into our mind before we quickly dismiss it and move on to our next deadline, demand, or decision. I think the lure of our childhood is rooted in the seemingly endless hours we had to just -- play. In fact we were encouraged and often commanded to "go outside and play". In retrospect, it seems those demands became more frequent and more exasperated as the summer continued to roll on. Many a back-to-school ad brought relief and maybe even a wry smile to a worn-out parent.  Perhaps you've smiled that smile yourself.

This all came to mind when I realized that over the next month or two, school years will wind down and one thing will be on the minds of kids everywhere. Summer vacation. With a bit of envy, I thought about all those wonderful opportunities for fun and games -- if you happen to be a kid. Since I have long passed that particular threshold in my life, I immediately moved into adult mode and politely advised myself to put on my big boy pants and deal with it.

Then, I got to thinking. Why should play and fun be the exclusive domain of the juvenile set? As parents we've researched the benefits of play and as a result encourage our children and grandchildren to do as much as they can. So, why are we not extending these same benefits to ourselves and doing more to increase our own opportunities for fun and games? Childish? Hardly. According to HealthGuide.org, there is a good reason we, as adults, should spend more time playing. This site suggests: "Play can add joy to life, relieve stress, supercharge learning, and connect you to others and the world around you. Play can also make work more productive and pleasurable."

Here are a few of the benefits play can provide taken directly from the HealthQuest.org site:

·         Relieve stress. Play is fun and can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

·         Improve brain function. Playing chess, completing puzzles, or pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.

·         Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often learn best when they are playing—and that principle applies to adults, as well. You’ll learn a new task better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and problem solve. -- Find more at HealthGuide.org 

So let's find time to put the electronic gadgets away and become the "fun-raisers" in our circle of influence. With the warmer weather making its way and bringing longer days with it, let's make play a priority and a habit. If we do it right, we may find ourselves a whole lot more fun to be around.

Wisdom and Courage and Love, Oh My

When I was a young child, I loved to take the annual trip down the yellow brick road. At that time, one of my favorite movies, The Wizard of Oz, was shown on network TV and according to my memory, came around about once a year. It was quite the event at my house and was always the talk of the elementary school whenever it came on. At a time when the only channels available were 2, 4, 7, and 9 (thanks to our Canadian friends); I'm thinking it was watched by the majority of households in my community, and often as an entire family. Imagine that.

Of course in today's world of instant access, this movie and nearly every other favorite can be available at the click of a button for downloading, or if you really want to be old school, pop in the DVD. However, in the 1960s it was a rare treat, and one to be savored and appreciated. For that reason, we recognized its great value and found ourselves immersed in the annual story line and the plight of the central characters. If you weren't home to watch it, you knew you had missed it and it would be another year before the next opportunity would come back around. Because of its rarity, the Wizard of Oz holds a special place for me and I assume, many other children of the sixties. Its lessons hold a similar place and I can't help but wonder if they are somewhat lost or at least obscured in this age of instant access and gratification.

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion were like old friends and it was always so good to see them and follow their heroic quest for a home, a brain, a heart, and a bit of courage. I remember thinking how scary their journey was and how there must certainly be an easier way to get to Oz. But every year they walked the yellow brick road, faced danger, and ultimately outsmarted and outmaneuvered a very wicked witch.  Ironically, they discovered that everything they wanted, and were willing to risk all for, was already within them and was accessible at any time. However, these treasured gifts could only become visible in the course of what promised to be a difficult and at times, seeming impossible journey. No fast forward. No rewind.

There were also no shortcuts, no easy buttons, or no magic wands. They didn't even have a car. Except for a short lift from some flying monkeys, they walked the entire way -- step by step, situation by situation, decision by decision -- and they did it as a team. Once each individual decision was made, they were committed to working together, supporting one another, and using their unique gifts and abilities when the situation called for it. Much like an annual showing of the beloved classic itself, it was old school -- and it was effective, and it was good.

The speed of today's technology and the quick access to information is intended to empower us and make us better in so many areas of our lives-- and in many ways it does. However, is it possible it also has made us a bit lazier, a bit less appreciative, and a bit more distracted? Are some of the simpler lessons and key principles getting by us because we are tempted to look at them as quaint, nostalgic, or even antiquated? Let's look at our current level of critical thinking. Do you think its level is higher or lower than in the past? In some cases, I wonder if we are even losing the burning desire to think for ourselves and have just found it easier to blindly accept and believe what shows up on our TVs, computers, and mobile devices.

The lesson of the Wizard of Oz is normally summarized in what is probably its most famous line: "There's no place like home." It speaks to the gratitude we should express for what we already have, and it is a great lesson. However, I believe there is an equally great lesson to be learned about how the attributes of wisdom, love, and courage are really acquired. Although each of these great qualities may already be inside of us, it is the step by step journey that gives opportunity for each to be practiced and perfected. Because perfection can never really be obtained, the journey also never ends. No one can take it for us and again, there are no shortcuts, easy buttons, or magic wands to do the work for us. No fast forward and no rewind -- just life in real time and moment by moment -- and lived in the company of those we love and trust.

Much like the rarity and novelty of a movie that only comes around once a year, life with all its paths is to be lived and pursued as one continuous and exciting journey. There is a road that lies before each of us. There are friends and loved ones who have gifts and abilities that will complement and complete our own. My wish and desire for you is that you will find both and -- follow the yellow brick road from the place and time it starts to the place and time it ends. 

The Energy Bus: Who's Aboard Yours?

“Positive energy is like muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets the more powerful you become. Repetition is the key and the more you focus on positive energy the more it becomes your natural state.” -- Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus

Over the past few weeks, our weekly business book club has been reading and discussing The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy. In his book, author Jon Gordon, has created a simple yet powerful comparison of how our lives are usually lived and the possibilities that await in the lives we truly desire. The difference is Positive Energy -- and we all have the potential to tap into it. 

In an easy to read and truly engaging manner, Gordon has made it easy to identify with the characters in this wonderful story -- particularly our hero, George. Have you ever had a day where nothing is going right and your attitude and your self-talk slips into the into the depths of a dark, and negative zone? Have you noticed how that day becomes a week, a month, a decade -- well, you get the idea. As Jon Gordon so wonderfully points out, a perceived setback or misfortune may just be the catalyst for the change we so desperately need, and then lead us to find Joy and The Energy Bus. Pick up the book and you'll see what I mean.

I'm thinking you may find yourself identifying with some of the other characters as well, and come to the realization that change is needed and it is needed now. Without it our relationships at home, work, or in our place of business can be at risk. Maybe they already are?

Rule Number One says you are the driver of your own Energy Bus. Embracing that truth, along with the nine other rules will help you to discover and take the ride of your life. I highly recommend that you make The Energy Bus your next book. If you're like me, you'll want to share it with others or find a group and take the journey together. If you haven't read a book in a while, it is a great place to begin again. 

Who's on your bus? Who needs to be? Find out and get rolling! Thanks Jon Gordon.

 Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a Certified Behavioral Consultant.

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