Why grow up to be adult when it's so associated with lack of fun and play? When you notice the inherent joy of discovery of children, who's to say that should ever end? That excitement, innocence, exploring one's natural self - is essential. Life is meant to be fun, an endless discovery of the new, the different and what awe-inspiring.

Babies and kids see exploration and play as natural. Everything is a new experience, a new discovery, wonder and experimentation. Kids are less concerned with beliefs than experiences that are pleasurable and explorative. New sights, sounds, ways to touch and taste and smell are natural to explore and are the end result.

With kids, repetition of what's enjoyable as well as the new is good. With children there is less concern about appearances - ways in which adults protect themselves from being fully alive. Though kids have elements of control, power, competition, me, mine, etc. just like adults, there is an innocence that generally is filled with a simple honesty.

Of course everyone is different - some people are more I oriented and some other oriented, child or adult. Whatever the truth, the more you can be your real self and also have a fun and playful attitude about life - the more you'll enjoy life, as well as others around you. Have fun so others can enjoy being around you! If you are too serious, critical or withdrawn, you and others don't get to experience and enjoy you fully.

Fun and Play tips...

Have fun - enjoyable in itself - as well as helping others have a good time too

Be your kid spirit - not letting responsibilities and appearances keep you from play, fun, spontaneity and creativity

Explore what is new and different - always be curious

Laugh as much as you want

Explore games and experiences and people and adventures

Let go of age as a barrier

Play with and be around kids

Learn while exploring new things

Have creative pursuits such as singing, dance, drawing, painting, sculpting, gardening, etc.

Have fun with everything - working, relating, working on your yard, washing dishes, watching TV, walking - try new ways of doing these activities

Feel joy and pleasure in your body

Watch out for habits and settled ways - they can disturb the fun of discovery

Synthesize old worlds into new realities - often the new, when adjusted to, is preferred

Smile when alone - smile with others

Live in the unknown and enjoy the exploration

Let go of over defining things

Throw away some of the rules, though keep the guidelines

Be silly, play, use your body in fun creative ways

Try new ways of stretching, walking, moving

Tell jokes, do stand up comedy or go to a comedy club

Help others play

Express your excitement and joy

Laugh out loud

Have fun with real kids and adult kids

Go to a water park, amusement park, nature park, flower garden

Learn to identify plants, trees, birds and insects

Keep the original excitement inherent in the human experience

Play board games, word or card games (many local communities have board or word or card game groups)

Make faces, wear new or funny clothes, Hawaiian shirts, summer travel clothes, hats

Have a bunch of props available to act out scenes from life

Try out for and act in plays or attend local community theater

Write poetry, have a sketchbook, doodle, paint

Be more outrageous

Act out different parts of yourself, play charades

Herb Pearce
http://www.herbpearce.com
http://www.herbstipsforliving.com "Herb's Tips for Living" ebook
Psychotherapist, personal phone coach in Boston area
Personality Types expert, Enneagram, Myers-Briggs
author of The Idiot's Guide to the Enneagram