GAME CLOCK FUN? IT’S ALWAYS RUNNING

The game clock of life runs and runs, and it’s running fast.

We still like to think we all start the same.

No one notices the difference since we’re so busy doing other things.

Maybe you’re heard that life happens when you’re doing other things?

What other things?

If memory serves me right, time is fleeting.

You’ve heard that? I didn’t just make it up.

Time speeds by but we lounge around doing the activities of normal life and don’t notice.

Looking for work, doing the job, paying rent, buying food, washing clothes.

What did I leave out? What’s missing?

The scoreboard of fun.

Load up your life with stuff and go on parade. Are you missing that?

The parade includes adventure cars carrying bumper stickers and patches of every exciting place it’s been.

From Yellowstone to Yosemite, Grand Canyon to the Columbia Gorge, the cars are a game clock in motion.

They carry memories and motivation to do more, then more after that.

You vs Game Clock Fun

Take a look at a geographical wonder for the first time and feel the stun.

It’s the same feeling the view offers every witness to their beauty.

And it never changes.

We can’t say the same about ourselves.

Disneyland is a different place for the kids who went in with their parents who became parents taking their kids.

It’s still the happiest place on earth like the first time, but a different kind of happy.

I’ve had mixed feeling from my first visit, but it’s still magical.

I was maybe twelve years old and pulled giant Goofy’s tongue. The actor inside the costume said, “Let go of my tongue you little shit.”

It was big-head Goofy with the actor’s face hidden behind a black screen inside the open mouth.

Goofy was not happy.

Fast forward and I’m there with with the family along with extended family from England.

One auntie in a wheel chair volunteered to watch one of my kids in a stroller.

A quick assessment showed someone who couldn’t run down a kidnapper if they targeted my kid. I missed Splash Mountain and getting soaked.

Fun time for all.

If you’re feeling stuck in a rut and left out, look for a moment that passes for fun.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell but it’s there.

Let Fun Happen

When someone else makes plans, do you change them or go along?

If you go along, do you bring your ‘I’ve got better things to do’ mood?

Try not to.

Find a way to fit into the plan without pouting.

Kids learn this early if you make fun a priority.

Denmark has a method worth looking at. It was brought up by a mom with a two year old.

I’ve been watching The Last Kingdom on Netflix about Danes in England.

Vikings.

The mom talking about Danish parenting may have been a warrior queen in another lifetime.

The idea behind Danish parenting is to establish a relationship between parents and children that involves caring and teaching.

Connection is the only reason kids freely give up what they want to do and do what we want instead. When we strengthen our connection with our children, parenting become easier as we become allies rather than adversaries.

I believe the same idea applies to marriage, to caregiving, to everything.

Caring and teaching sounds like love, a lot like love.

Loving life is showing a good example, so do it right.

For a successful love life you need to make the decision all English majors make:

Do you throw yourself into the fire, or coast along for the ride?

Do the required reading? Or go to Cliff Notes?

Either way, be sure you know the difference and respect those who do the work if you go Cliff Notes.

Make it as fun as you can, learning and caring kind of fun.