The Fun Police

or, the fundamentalism of, or aka tyranny of how we are suppose to have fun is ruining people. I’m sure I’ve written this piece before, using a few different words, or turns of phrase, but it keeps returning to me. The media and the commercials, the power of channeling what’s “fun” into folks minds. Beer and gatherings. Fast cars and travel. The drinking and the sports. The group of people (and did I mention the drinking <yawn>) The “bloody mary” jokes, the brand of shoe, the hotel in Vegas where such ‘n such goes and bets on the over/under. The humblebrags when a spotlight is shown on you……..I mean, you rarely ever hear from someone, “OMG it’s so fun when I’m out cross country skiing alone on a lake edge feeling the happiest I ever feel” because where’s the fun in that? Where’s the fun in fly fishing (miles up a stream alone with the sound of the wind high in the trees and spotting that tiny whirl in the river top that requires the delicate toss of a #18 caddis fly and the smile and feeling that gives me…………Que an obvious alert: the most fun you can have is not being directed by commercials and photos and social media and the instant urge to share your fun to make it officially fun, but by doing what you find authentically fun for the inherent fun it provides you. I know, deep, zen insight here, right? Discover on your own what really makes you happy. “Just Do It” (haha)