Friendly reminder: do something fun.

Today’s a beautiful 74ºF Sunday morning.

Three houses away from my doorstep, my neighbor and I stop for a chat.

“Getting some sun?”

“Sunscreen… mountain bike riding.”

“Beautiful day, slightly warm.”

“Brother’s in town.”

“Venice was nice, you’ll enjoy it.”

“Mountain biking.”

“Have a good day…”

“You too…”

I know that conversation doesn’t make sense—it’s shorthand; nonetheless, a two-minute, warm interaction.

Before leaving, she says, “Do something fun.” Something so innocent, yet it struck like someone flicking my forehead. I don’t know why. We’re probably in the same boat, you and I, but I only really want to leave the house if I have a reason to do so.

Everything’s binary—ones and zeros.

Grocery store because I need groceries. Brewery because I want to hang out and have fun with friends. Work because I have to put food on the table.

Everything has its reason.

Fun’s really subjective, if you think about it—like fast, beautiful, and spicy—yet what about all the other little fun things we could be doing with our lives but don’t, because there isn’t reasoning substantial enough or the thought of it irks us?

Because getting dressed, brushing your teeth, and walking out the door feels like too much effort, whatever that means? So instead, we just stay home, dusting if we must, killing time we’ll never get back.

There’s a saying—I forget where I heard it: “Never be home.”

Sure, you need to sleep and rest occasionally, yet adventure is out there, not on your couch or bed. If you and I are never home, we’re surfing reality, observing it, questioning it, analyzing it, appreciating it. “Oh, it is warm today—thank you for this heat and sun, for it could’ve been worse: cloudy, damp, and cold.”

What if we found a way to just go for a walk because it’s fun? What if we found a way to talk to the people who are just background noise in our daily lives—many of whom we’ll never see again—because it’s fun? What if, what if, what if.

Here’s usually where the excuses pile up: “I have to walk my pet goldfish. I have to get a haircut. I’m not wearing the right clothes.”

The only thing you have to do is die.

Think of that.

Everything else in life is a choice, with you in full control of the actions you want to take. Sure, we don’t control the outcomes, yet rather than framing everything as good or bad, why not good or a funny story?

This fun will either go well or, at the very least, make for a funny story—allowing me to collect more stories, memories, and happenings to look back upon.

All because you and I made the conscious effort to go out and have fun, for everything in life is not that serious.

We’ve a short-term stay here on Earth, experiencing this thing we call life.

All because it’s fun. All because it can be fun.

Or so I think,

George