Find what brings you joy and do more of it.
This week, at aged 44, I bought myself a hula hoop. I am not having a crisis; I am remembering how much fun it was and I want it back in my life.
As the Festival of Wellbeing Fair was in full swing last Friday in the King’s High Quad, I looked around and saw groups of students and teachers laughing together whilst hula-hooping (as well as pedalling smoothie bikes, singing, dancing, blowing giant bubbles, painting pebbles, reading on picnic blankets…it was a good day).
Hula-hooping. It was such a simple thing; it was such a joyful thing.
One of the most valuable things about childhood is the freedom and encouragement to play with no agenda other than it is fun. Intellectually, we know that a child learns though play, but what the child knows is that they are doing something that brings them joy. It makes them feel good, laugh, smile or feel happy. So, why do we stop playing as we get older if it makes us feel joyful?
The simple adage of “life gets in the way” just isn’t good enough. Life is not supposed to get in the way of joy and happiness; isn’t life supposed to be all about maximising those things?
When was the last time that scrolling through screen content made you feel joy, the real stuff that makes your heart swell and your eyes sparkle?
So, what does bring you joy? Take some time to reflect and remember, or pursue and discover new things and build time for them into your week.
Dance to the music. Climb the tree. Play with the dog. Sign up for the pottery class. Write. Paint. Draw. Sing. Read. Run. Twirl. Buy the hula hoop and actually use it.
Find the things that bring you joy, and do more of them.
