DEAR JOURNAL-Fun Is Restorative!

Dear Journal,

This weekend was indeed one to remember. Friday, in particular, stood out as the highlight. I started the day with my usual to-do list: stretch/workout routine, shower, homeschool, cook, and clean. But, as it turned out, the man I live with had other plans.

J, you know I’ve been working on being less rigid with my routines, so when he mentioned that the last forty percent of my carefully planned Friday was a no-go, part of me panicked. Just a little, though—thankfully, the feeling didn’t last long (lol).

By the time we finished school for the day, I had nearly forgotten about the change. I wrapped up my session with my nephew and instinctively reached for the broom—because, of course, cleaning was next. But the kids quickly reminded me that Dad had alternate plans, plans they were clearly excited about! Meanwhile, I found myself mentally calculating how much time I’d have left to complete the other 40 percent of my routine after we got back.

It wasn’t long before I discovered we were heading out for a night of bowling. I have to be honest, J, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. But for the sake of my goal to embrace spontaneity and live in the moment, I decided to go with it. I was searching hard for that spontaneity during the car ride, though—real hard.

When we arrived at the bowling alley, I couldn’t help but think about the unfinished work waiting for me at home. But with some self-talk and deep breaths, I managed to clear my thoughts. It had been so long since I last bowled—probably before my youngest daughter was born—so I was sure I’d be rusty. And, well, I was, at first. The first round was a little rough, but by the second round, J, your girl warmed up! I even got a few strikes.

The night turned into an absolute blast. The teams were girls versus boys, and guess what? WE WON! My second daughter and I carried our team. It felt so good to laugh, cheer, and enjoy the moment with everyone. To think, I wasn’t even excited to go!

The fun didn’t stop there. After bowling, we spent time at the arcade, playing games and laughing until we were all exhausted. By the time we got home, I felt completely restored. Sure, I was tired, but the laughter, the bonding, and the sheer joy of it all left me feeling refreshed and grateful. It reminded me just how restorative fun can be.

My takeaway? Sometimes, we need to willingly step away from our routines to embrace the joy, laughter, and connection that life offers. Those moments are worth every bit of spontaneity it takes to get there.