I have an overfilled plate these days and often get buried in work. My focus can stay on what needs to be done and make me forget to be loving to me. I’ve turned down invitations to events and put off seeing friends in order to have more time for work. Fortunately, I caught myself. All work and no play leaves out self-love. We all need to enjoy our lives. Sometimes we must buckle down more than others.

But, even if life is work intensive, you MUST make room for play.

It’s said that variety is the spice of life but I think that the fun you have is what gives life spice. I do try to have fun wherever I go, but when I’m always staying in focused on work, fun gets lost. And fun is to me, almost as important as air and water. Without it, you don’t really have a life. Yet lately I’ve been playing the “let me just focus on work for another week” game, putting off things that would give me pleasure, week by week. Until recently, when I was invited to see MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET.

A friend was getting tix and asked if I wanted to go. My initial reaction was no. Fortunately she had emailed me and didn’t hear that reply. I love music and had heard good things about the show so an inner voice began saying, then screaming, “GO! You need some fun.” I listened, and emailed that yes, I’d love to go. I didn’t just say yes to seeing a Broadway show. I said YES to ME, to fun, to doing something that said, “I love me!”

Millionaire Quartet is an amazing show! It’s the true story of December 4, 1956, when Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins got together in the office of Sun Records. They jammed and sang individually. The dialogue was informative about these historical musicians and also very funny. The guys who played the roles are amazing musicians–as good as the legends they play. The music was electrifying. As I danced in my seat, I said thank you–to myself–for saying YES. Rarely do I give a standing ovation but I was one of the first on my feet when it ended, screaming and cheering–for them and for me!

Saying YES to fun is essential for a happy, satisfying life.

DoorMats say YES to everyone but themselves, at their own expense, leaving little energy for their own pleasure. Many people insist to me that helping others is their pleasure. Yes, giving is a joy. I emphasize that in my Giving Back posts. But, you MUST give to YOU too and make sure you have regular fun and pleasure! Have to! Must!

Denying yourself joy in order to put energy into other people’s pleasure or to do chores or work long hours sets the stage for low self-esteem, and unhappiness.

I told you about the show because going woke me up. It was so much fun and motivated me to have more. I accept that there will be many times when work has to be done and I have to skip something I’d like. But now I’m making a bigger effort to prioritize things I enjoy. Since the weather is cooperating, I’m back to making time to run in Central Park. It’s so good for me and I love how I feel doing it.

Tune into your idea of fun and find ways to have more of it.

If you love yourself, or would like to, making time for fun is a good reinforcement. Think about what you love to do and do it to say, “I love me!” The more you do, the happier you’ll be. And trust me, the laundry will eventually get done and other obligations met. Think twice about what you agree to do that you know won’t be fun. Help others when you can, but not at the expense of joy. You can bring fun into chores too. Play some loud music when you clean or wash dishes and dance as you do the chores. Do your best to say YES to fun and appreciate that when you do, you’re saying YES to being happy.

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