Thanks for the reminder.  Somtimes I need help not taking life too seriously.

Gary- I like that idea: "time block your stress."  It does make sense, but makes me laugh:  "Are you free tomorrow at 10am?"...."No, that's my stress hour, I'll be busy being stressed then."

Gary, I try to have fun everyday.  I love the agents in my office and we laugh way more than is normal for most people.  We also hug hello and goodbye everyday.  I also have great fun at the gym and try to do fun classes with people who make me laugh.  I try to go every day.  Today, I went this morning.  A friend was teaching his first class tonight so I went again to support him and had a load of fun and got another workout in (Latin American Dance Aerobics)!  But at the same time, I find life to be incredibly stressful as far as trying to make ends meet, trying to raise kids, work and keep a halfway clean house.  To stay sane, I read everyday too.  Now, I read Active Rain a lot which is making finishing my books a little harder! Hey, typing all this out made me realize that I have a pretty nice life, with great friends and enough laughs to sustain me through all the hard times.

fun is the key to everything

Gary, This came at a perfect time.  I have been working hard and often and not playing much...today I bought two tickets to the Stevie Wonder concert at the beach and was feeling a bit guilty....the guilts gone, now---Thank you!

It's ok to have spontaneous fun too. Seeing the picture of these kids playing on the merry-go-round makes me want to join in. And, with the right people around me I might do that if I was standing there. Like last week when I stopped at a friends house and her darling 12 year old daughter (also my firend - we're like family) showed me her new trampoline. Well Gary, you probably already guessed - I got jumping around! It relieved my stress. What fun - until I wacked my head!

I need to take more time to find fun, thanks for the reminder.

I have a niece and nephew that are 4 and 7, and what a wonderful world they live in! Absolutely everything an anything can be made into playtime.  Flicking the blinds on the window, tipping a chair, building a fort out of the kitchen table...an army out of figurines.....giggling and laughing, running and falling........it definitely has a ripple effect!  I think I need to spend more time around them! 

Gary - What a nice idea for all of us responsible and serious adults.  I've been able to experience a little more "fun" in my schedule this year (not as busy working) and due to that same reason I've experienced more stress, too.  Oh well, it's not only tough to balance work and family - it's also difficult to have more fun when I'm busy working, but at the same time I'm less stressed when my work keeps me busy.

Gary, You are the most positive cheerleader for all of us. Keeping us sane, smiling and content with our life. But you are so right about it. I come from a family with a long line of optimistic and, even if I don't take much after them, I know first hand how important is for your health and for everyone else around you to laugh and have fun... Life gets much easier!  

Great advice!   My fun time today was watching Idol tonight with my husband and kids.

GARY - You could probably charge for all of the great advice that you give, but with gas prices being what they are, I'm glad that you don't. ;-)

Gary I am not one that lives to work.  I work so that I can live!  And I do enjoy living and I take as much time as I possibly can doing so.  Great post!

Gary, great post. Laughter and fun is the best medicine to relieve that stress.

It's kind of alarming that we need to be reminded to have fun! Enjoying yourself is what life is all about! Good post!

Finding a fun place everyday!! Great post Gary.

Oh Gary! I do seem to have fun. My daughters get just a little embarrassed with their Mother's actions sometimes. I think they should loosen up too! Don't forget the hugs for relieving stress.

Cool pic!  We are going on vacation in a month and I cannot wait to have FUN!! 

Gary,
Great advice.  As you know, I take a play day occassionally, it's esential for my mental and emotional well being. 

Adam: Some of us are good at the reminders to the serious folks!!

Matt: Funny, I'm busy being stressed right now : )

Susan: I think you are Super Mom, or Super Woman! Wow, you are busy. Another thing we have in common is fitness. I can't tell you how many people I talk to, or even read about here on AR who do much of what you do, but no fitness. They are going to die of a heart attack. Exercise, itself, is a great de-stresser. Laughing also will make you live a long time, so you're on the right track Read books, and also read / comment on AR with the voices that you are in tune with.

Ron: You definitely got it.

Carole: Stevie Wonder at the beach. You know how to have fun. NEVER feel guilty for fun. It is your RIGHT!! Remember, pursuit of happiness.

Carol: You, spontaneously on a trampoline. I can just see it. Me laughing at you. Then you conking your head. Me laughing at you SOME MORE. You save your best punch lines for the end.

Bart: Right, figure out what is fun for YOU!!

Liz: That's your ticket, spend more time with the little ones. Be silly. All of a sudden you'll be a big kid all over again (and be laughing). GREAT for the spirit.

Adam: Hey bud, it's a free forum. Thank God for all of us here. You put out quite a bit of good wisdom yourself over there on that blog.

Nannette: You definitely have the right attitude about putting as much as you can into living. Pass that attitude on to all those workaholics you encounter.

Duane: Laughter just breaks up that tension I agree. Great for chemistry too.

Katie: You are right. If we have to be reminded to have fun we are working entirely too hard.

Nice reminder Gary! I'll be the one smiling at the gas pump tomorrow...

Lynn: A dual edged sword, work to pay bills and get stressed, not work enough have more fun, but bills are still there. It's a balance for sure.

Arina: Well, if you are not going to take after your roots and just be one of those "serious heads" out there, you'll need me and others to remind you to not be so serious. Don't worry Arina, things always work out for the best. You have so much goodness in your heart, don't be so hard on yourself. My two words for you to focus on today: CHILL and SMILE!! : )

Lisa: Ah, a night out on the town with the family at the TV : )

Keith & Robin: I'm good with finding as many fun places as I can.

Becky: Be the fun example for those around you, and YES, hugs are free and you can never give enough of them.

Patricia: Vacations are meant for fun. I hope you have a SUPER time.

Cynthia: They call those mental health days. We all need them. We all need some carefree time.

Karen: Now you are outdoing me with your attitude. I STILL have trouble smiling at the gas pump. Maybe after I drive away and get home, but at the pump it is tough. Your comment made me smile though. : )

Gary, when you talk fun I always make a bee line for the deep end of that pool.

Rob: Sounds refreshing to me. Dive in!! : )

Gary~Do you ever get tired of me repeating myself? I do so adore you and your attitude about life. It is amazing what transpires from each moment in life, if we just get on the level of our little ones or the little ones that surround us.  You keep reminding all of us of the things that should take place often in our lives.  Thank you again!

Julie: I NEVER tire of hearing your voice. The goodness of your heart outflows to all the world. I have learned I think the most about life from the very young and the very old. Don't know why that is other than there is more innocence and vulnerability there to see. It makes me pay attention, alot.

Gary~Because of YOU, I went outside with my little girl and upon her request we made mud pies.  Now that brought back a flood of memories and had both of us smiling from ear to ear with our silliness.  Thank YOU!

Julie: By jove! I think you've got it. Mud pies. Now THAT is fun. You know you are having fun when you are silly with a little one and just LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH. It's GREAT!! Make time for fun. That is what I think life should be about.

Fun is every day.  ITs a mindset.  If you think life is stresssful it becomes that way.  Great post.  Life is about fun....its about having joy.

Dave: You have great wisdom if you know about fun and joy. Live that way each day my man!

  Gary: Your posts are so "positive" and stress-free!  THANKS

Gary- I agree with you. We all get stressed at times, but I have made a conscious decision the have fun and live in the moment.

Kat: You always come with the coolest smileys. Thanks for adding the animation and color.

Dana: Having fun and living in the moment is the BEST way to live. It takes some effort though to remember to do that. Good luck to you.