What do you think of, when you hear the word FUN?

Who has TIME for FUN? Fun is the reward for getting all your work done, and there's always more work to be done. Does the guilt of work not done overshadow your ability to have fun?Do children appear to feel guilty about having fun? NO! The average preschool child laughs over 400 times a day, the average adult laughs 15. If you watch a child, you will soon notice that there is no separation between work and play.

Our parents are to blame!

Karyn Ruth White, in her book with Jay Arthur, "Your Seventh Sense" reminds us that as we were growing up, our parents systematically taught us that work and play are two separate things, and that play cannot occur until the work is done. Remember hearing, "Finish your homework/chores and then you can go out to play? Shh... settle down! That's not funny! Wipe that silly grin off your face right now! Enough monkey business! There's a time and place and this is not the time!"

No room left for fun?

Do you know someone so serious about life, they have no room left for fun? I remember a time when I fell into that category. When I was 33, an auto accident left me facing the challenges of living with a brain injury. Because I was so focused on rehab, the hilarious situations I found myself in day after day were not remotely funny to me. My husband asked me, "Are you going to allow your circumstances to ruin every day?"

Suddenly, I realized feeling happy and having fun were rewards I had set aside until I completed the hard work of restoring my health and abilities, my life!

Is it possible to feel happy and have fun in the midst of your circumstances?

YES! Humor can be a tremendous resource in reducing frustration, managing stress, and overcoming adversity. Learning to see the humor in situations, and learning to laugh at yourself can lighten any load and brighten every day. Work is easier when mixed with laughter and FUN.

Whatever you look for, you will find!

If it's trouble you are looking for, trouble will find you. If you want to have a great day, look for the positives. If you want to have a miserable day, look for the negatives. If you want to see the humor in ordinary, everyday life -- all you have to do is start looking for it.

Where have all the fun times gone?

Everyday we miss opportunities to laugh and have fun. My brain injury brought me challenges and heartache that I did not ask for. HOWEVER, my brain injury rehab taught me how to feel happy in the midst of my circumstances, and how to look for and enjoy the humor that everyday life surrounds us with each and every day.

Look for the humor in everyday life, and you will always have plenty of fun times!
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Lois McElravy, Lessons from Lois, works with individuals and organizations who want to learn how to effectively use humor, so they can handle the demands and pressures of work and home, maintain a flexible perspective, produce positive outcomes, and have more fun.

Learning to laugh and "hangin' on with humor" rescued Lois from the distress and despair surrounding her daily life, and initiated her recovery from a brain injury. Her universal message offers hope, motivates participants to be faithful to do the small things, and conquer their challenges one day at a time.

©2006 Lois McElravy, Lessons from Lois - This article was published in the February, 2005 MBN (Missoula Businesswomen's Netword) newsletter called "Synergy" and Published in the March , 2005 issue of Inside the Garden City - Permission to reprint or repost this article is granted by notifying Lois McElravy, and including her name and contact information in the article.

Contact Lois to speak at your next event: info@lessonsfromlois.com , (406)251.2887 http://www.lessonsfromlois.com