Let's make it FUN (because the world is mad)

How is everyone holding up this week? It feels like a good time for a check in. Everyone keeping their head above water somehow? I know it’s rough out there.

Last week I was worried about slipping under the surface, but this week I’m doing better—partly because I took a day off on Friday and did something fun with a friend. I’ve been on a big stretch of work, so this was an unusual and much-needed reprieve. It was amazing how a day of no computer, immersing myself in a museum, a good lunch, and a long friend chat really turned things around.

The other thing I am doing is making plans.

Because the world is feeling increasingly mad and scary, I am making plans for FUN.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but I truly believe it’s essential. The forces that be are trying to overwhelm, trying to get us to give in to despair, trying to make it all feel hopeless. And FUN seems like the best counterbalance. (Yes, in this case, the all-cap letters feel warranted).

Don’t get me wrong—I am also speed-dialing elected officials, attending political organizing meetings, and looking after my community. But I am also making plans for FUN. I hope you’ll join me.

Several years ago I did an experiment where I did something fun each day for a month. I’ve written about that here. I sometimes revive this plan in February, as part of my winter survival strategy. This year I’m breaking it out again.

Would you like to join me? I hope some of you will.

Here’s the plan: every day for the next month, pick something fun, delightful, or pleasurable that you would like to do and do it. It’s that simple.

It doesn’t need to be big or all-consuming. Find a park bench and sit in the sun and blow bubbles. Ride a trolley car. Take yourself out for ice cream. Go on a photo walk. Explore a new park/street/neighborhood. Write a funny postcard to a friend. Play a game. Learn a new dance.

You’ll have to spend some time thinking about what seems fun to you—whatever lights you up. But if you get stuck, I recommend Andrea Scher’s book, Wonder Seeker as a resource (I’ve written about it here). Or steal any of my ideas. Or talk it over with a friend. Or ask the internet. (I looked at a few lists and each of them offers “take a nap” as an option, so you officially have permission to do that).

I’m also re-reading Catherine Price’s book The Power of Fun, so I’ll be posting about that as well. If you’d like to read along with me, I highly recommend it. When I read the book in 2023, it had more real-life impact on me than any other book I read that year.

I’ll be posting a bit more frequently this month, and some posts will be for subscribers only, but you can definitely do the challenge either way.

A reminder: paid subscriptions are two-for-the-price-of-one, so you can pass one along to a friend (just select “group subscription”). Paid subscriptions enable me to do this work, so I am grateful to all of you who contribute in that way.

I’m feeling cheered and excited to do something FUN with you all. Let’s build some intentional goodness into our days, to counterbalance the worry and weight of the world right now. Let’s not let the bad news drag us down.

I’ll list some of my ideas for fun below, and please post your own in the comments. I love it when we can share the good stuff.

Starting on Saturday, it’s going to be FUN. I hope you’ll join in. You don’t have to do every day, just whatever works for you.

Sending best, let’s make it fun.

—Tara

—Sneak onto the swings at a playground and go as high as you can.
—Kitchen dance party. What is the song that always gets you out of your seat?
—Put together an excellent care package—for someone else, or for yourself!
—Paint by numbers kit, or some other low-stakes artistic activity.
—Cartwheels. It’s really hard to feel grumpy when doing cartwheels.

What sort of FUN works for you?

Something else to enjoy: my books