Your house of fun

[Whiteknight]

Your mental health had taken a turn for the worse, essentially your life, in house terms fell off its stumps after white ants came along to eat them ...down she went. Now your life is on an angle on the ground. You put into place some strategies to live life the best you can but no matter what you do, you cannot straighten that house floor, it is constantly on an angle. So your life isnt fun anymore.

As you seek professional help then the house restumpers (psychs) arrive to rebuild the foundations. They jack up your house and this period is challenging to say the least as your house is moving around as you walk inside it. Slowly your old home rests on its new stumps as medication takes effect. That's all well and good but, you've been riding that disabled house for so long you no longer know how to settle in this flat one. You dont know how to live like you once did. You dont know how to have fun without your mind referring to how it used to be- the past.

There are things missing. The tradies left the garden a mess, the swing set is on its side and you realise...you dont have fun in your life. You buy a fun wand and wave it- it doesnt work. What do you do.?

Well it seems basic if I listed the steps you can take to have fun but alas, people need to be led towards happiness of whic of which fun is a crutial ingredient.

• Set goals in three parts short, medium and long term
• Get your medication right. Work close to your professional mental health workers to do this.
• Seek stability in work environment, career and things like shortening travel times
• Reconsider if you reside in the city to move to its rim or to the country. If you are not fully happy in the city -move.
• Buy a pet. A dog does amazing things to us. We find we are needed, wanted and dependent on. A cat if you please.
• Seek a passion. A passion is more than a hobby but some people never have a passion and cant get one, its the drive of a passion that's deep in your character that you have been enthusiastic with all your life. For me it was model aircraft, now vintage cars. My wife doesnt ahve a passion and I've realised I cannot help her in that way...it has to come from within.
• If you cant get a passion then a hobby, sports etc. My wife does jigsaws on her computer, painting by numbers, Sudoku and quilting. None are passions but they are fun for her. Some follow sporting clubs.
• Consider camping. I discovered a National park less than 90 minutes from Melbourne. A two man tent is as little as $30, single butane cooker $30, container of water etc. Not expensive. Two nights and you'll feel brand new. Graduate to a folding camper, roof top tent of caravan. With a caravan it can be ready to hook up and leave home 30 minutes after arriving home from work. You'll be excited from Wednesday onwards making work less of a chore.
• Budget for long term holidays. Consider a family ritual to gather on the banks of a river once a year so family can mingle in a happy place.
• Adrenalin can be found in more challenging ways- parachuting, hot air ballooning, fun parks on the Gold Coast, paintball, horse riding adventures. Even better make the booking earlier in the week and surprise your partner with an early morning alarm and make it a surprise.

What about some soul searching? Fun can be mixed with activities that stimulate us emotionally thereby making package of feelings complete.

Contact with animals- a zoo, sanctuary or staying on a farm for a few days which people have set up nowadays. Hill climbing and bush walking, bike riding/motorcycling. Hire a motorbike? A boat trip. Steamboats form Echuca. You'll fill your life with fun but also memories. Once my wife and I stayed at a B&B in Mt Dandenong for our anniversary. We ate out then returned to our room in an old home and...and...it began to snow!! Flaking snow falling is a memory we will never forget, fire burning....

THE CORNER OF THE BUSH

Given society a gentle push

Arrived in the corner of the bush

Moved fast lane aside for harmony

Closer to ones own – destiny

Shadow moon shines infinitely

Night owls a symphony

Sitting arms in Buddha pose

Spiders allowed to- dance upon my nose

Furry paws best caring hand

No shield needed in wonderland

No internet, no ringing phone

Where stones are never thrown

In the corner of the bush

Give society a gentle push

Blending bark with your skin

Protesters nearby – but they will not win

Children nearby ‘hide and seek’

We all end up as a compost heap

Fun and more fun echoes all around

Some life lived – some never found

Further and further into branches and leaves

Like us, do animals grieve?

Bush no need for duck and weave

Only matters – what you believe

Hark the bells of sanity

No mirror for your vanity

Rocks thrown from a cowards lair

I’m in the bush…no quarry there

Trip over plastic traps

Cradle broken bird in your lap

Send society with that gentle push

From the corner of the bush.....

WK 

Do you have any suggestions for our members on how to introduce fun and meaning in their lives. Please share them.

WK

[Former-Member]

Hi @Whiteknight

I love your use of metaphor here. We all have to make repairs and renovations on our houses from time to time 🌻

Just a quick message to let you know I moved your discussion over here as I thought it might fit a little better and help you to connect with more members around this topic. 

Hope you get some time to have fun this weekend.

[Whiteknight]

Thanks Margot 🙂

[Former-Member]

Another interesting read @Whiteknight - thank you. Some of the activities you suggested sounded like a real blast - so I have added them to my bucket list!!!