Coming Home Meditation Tuesday Morning 9-10:15am EST ~ Just for the Fun of It

Join me for a meditation on the power of pleasure, joy, and fun

Dear Friends,

It might be strange to offer a meditation as a chance to have some fun. I have to admit, I’m not sure meditation can be “FUN” in the limited sense we often use the word. And yet, I want to try. I’m sitting with the realization today that I could use a little more fun in my life. If that speaks to you, come join me!

There’s a lot I want to say about my long and strained relationship with fun. I’ve always been more strategic with my time and attention—like I have a sense time is limited and there’s a lot I want to do in this life. I’m also highly attuned to shadow, grief, and suffering. I work with trauma and guide people through life transitions and spiritual awakening, which can be intense, mysterious, beautiful, magical, and even blissful…but only very occasionally “fun.”

Sure, I have spontaneous fun on occasion, but it’s usually unexpected; I don’t plan for it…it’s more of a fringe benefit of whatever else I’m doing. It’s not like I’m not a fun person—I have a mischievous streak and I love to laugh; I have passions and enjoy activities that leave me inspired like seeing art, being in nature, dancing, exploring, catching up with friends, being with my love, going on adventures…but fun isn’t really what I’m seeking. If fun happens—great! If not—I sometimes forget about it altogether.

Seven years ago when I met my best friend, the first thing he told me was that he was psychic. The next thing he told me was that I need to have more fun. He said: “First thing tomorrow, I want you to call your most fun friend and say, ‘We’re going out tonight, and you’re in charge.’” I actually did it. And I did have fun.

Basically, I have to come back around to this realization periodically. I go through phases where life gets very serious, very disciplined, or very overwhelming. Fun feels far away at these times. When the fog of the intensity begins to lift, I often find myself wondering what is missing. Fun, is often the answer.

For the last 11 years, my daughter has been my primary partner in fun. She’s super fun. And I spent a lot of time as a mom trying to ensure her life was full of fun, play, and light-heartedness. The pandemic years were tough for her (for many kids) and I worked hard to make our time in the cabin on the farm fun for her. Sometimes, I forgot to make it fun for me, too. Now she’s entering her pre-teen years and there’s a lot less playfulness in the house. A lot more attitude, more moodiness. It’s perfectly natural, nothing unusual, but it just hit me this morning that I’m missing the fun we used to have together. As our relationship changes, I am realizing I miss having fun with her in the old ways and we haven’t yet found new ways of having fun together. I felt sad recognizing the truth in this change. But, also hopeful. I know we’ll always have fun. It’s just going to be different fun.

John Vervaeke, the great philosopher and teacher, talks about the importance of “serious play” in his work. He says that scarcity is at the root of our losing our capacity for playfulness, which is a shame because play is a brilliant, efficient, effective and FUN way to problem-solve, learn, and evolve. It’s how kids do it. Adults should, too. I am committed to incorporating more fun, more pleasure and more play into my life. I’m curious how it might effect me and also my close relationships.

Tomorrow, I’d like to play with meditation. Won’t you join me? XO