How did you spend Family Day?

If you live in a part of Canada that celebrated Family Day this past Monday, how did you spend it this year?

We want to hear your stories! Post your comments here.

What are your hobbies?

Isn’t it interesting to look back and see how our hobbies can change over the years? I can remember a variety of hobbies, and some make me laugh just thinking about them. Here’s a quick walk down memory lane – maybe some of you will join me. There were the days of collecting things: key chains (I had hundreds), Precious Moments, teddy bears (I’m not referring to a childhood collection here – a grown woman with a house full of teddy bears), and stickers (scratch & sniff were my personal favourite). The collecting phase moved into the craft phase: macramé (does anyone still do this?), rug hooking, crocheting, hand-painted clothing (which turned into a business venture) and the still popular scrap booking to name a few.

As I take the time to reflect back, I am entertained by the positive associations I have with each of them. They bring back some really fond memories of various seasons in my life…I’m actually sitting here smiling. And I’m realizing the important role that hobbies can play in our lives: they can serve as a creative outlet; they are often social activities (or can be); they are a way to relax and let go of the everyday stresses of life. But aren’t they often one of the first things to get “bumped” when life gets busy? Not any more. I am committing to setting aside more time for hobbies – for crafts, for creativity, for time with friends and family.

What about you? What are your hobbies? What role do they play in your life?

I’d love to hear from you!
Wendy

May 7th, 2009:
I just returned from a bike ride, my first for this season- a forty minute mini vacation along the trail in our area. Thinking pleasant thoughts while cycling cleared my mind and energized my spirit.

In the Old Testament such care was given to each part of the tabernacle, where God met His people. Although God no longer dwells in the Old building, I've learned the value of looking after my temple, His new dwelling place.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit?" The Message

As women we often feel selfish when we spend time on our own recreation and hobbies.
That's not a Scriptural teaching for Corinthians goes on to say that we are bought with a price, God owns all of us. Let's look after His possession.

What are you doing this spring that will keep you healthy physically, spiritually and mentally? I'd love to hear from you.

Suggestion: Dividing your day into three parts- morning, afternoon and evening is one way to know how you are doing looking after yourself.

You need one of those parts each day for rest and recreation. For instance, if you work at night, you'll need either morning or afternoon for rest and recreation.

Sometimes our schedules have two or three days where all three parts are booked up. In that event, we need a whole day or as many parts as we've missed.

As well, each day I like to ask myself what I've done in each category- body, mind and spirit.

Let's share some ideas.

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful ...and a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Prov. 15:13; 17:22).

What is so important about fun and relaxation that I would write about it three times? In the first two blogs, I shared experiences that were both fun for me and and relaxing at the same time. Both stories involved people, talking, laughing, sharing dinner and telling stories. Did you ever notice how much more fun you can have when there are others around? Being alone is not fun - you need someone to share it with.

Scientific studies have proven that “hanging out with friends for fun and relaxation actually counters stress that women experience on a daily basis.” Dr. Laura C. Klein, of Penn State University, says that engaging in friendships and relaxation reduces stress and produces a calming effect in one’s life. This fact has significant implications for our health. Dr. Klein and associate, Dr. Shelly Taylor found in their research that social ties, friendships and relationships “reduce the risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol.”

If having fun and relaxing with others is so good for us, why don’t we do it more? What is the stumbling block? Most of us are so busy, we think we don’t have time and we put our friends on the back burner, promising them and ourselves, “We’ll try for next week.” If only we could remember the source of strength our friendships provide, we would not be so quick to put them on hold. Is there a friend you need to call today and set up an uninterrupted time just to be together, to talk and share as friends do? It will be a healing experience.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about fun and relaxation. Why not take a moment to share some of your experiences with us.

Eileen

Seize the Moment!

Life is busy for everyone. It seems like there is never enough time to do everything we need to do. Who has time to even think about fun and relaxation? One of my friends said to me recently, “I never take time to relax and have fun. I’m too busy.”

I started thinking about that. I have a full schedule as well and don`t plan for fun as often as I should, but somehow it seems to happen for me. Just a week or so ago, my 19 year-old grandson had a birthday and I was able to host the party. You can imagine ten young people around the table and everyone laughing and talking. It was wonderful - each one telling stories on the others. For about two hours I enjoyed the most wonderful entertainment. It was both fun and relaxing. I seized the moment.

Early last Sunday morning a friend I don`t see very often, called and asked if I could have lunch with her after church. It was a spontaneous invitation and I responded in the same way. She had made a scrumptious dinner and as we sat at her little table, beautifully set, we had lots of fun and laughter, as well as some serious conversation. After dinner, we relaxed in the living room and talked some more. Driving home, I realized how blessed I was. Those two hours, spontaneously ordered, were both fun and relaxing. We had seized the moment.

Eugene Peterson tells us we need to “pay attention to the ordinary,” and to realize that “God is in the everyday.” I agree. Sometimes we let the days slip by without watching for the special moments God may have planned for us - and we miss them. We keep waiting for that large block of time when we can take a big holiday when we think we will have lots of fun and relaxation. We need to keep our eyes open and watch for God’s everyday surprises - and seize those moments.

Have fun!

Till next time,
Eileen

Recreation = Recreating

Oxford dictionary defines recreation as a 'means of recreating oneself, pleasurable exercise or employment.' That seems to indicate that our work could actually have an element of recreation.

Have you found that to be true?

What do you think of the following quote?
U.S. novelist James A. Mitchener states:
"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure...his information and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both."

Spontaneous Fun: Postpone the "To Do List"!

The ringing of the phone broke the silence of the quiet summer evening. As I answered, I was pleasantly surprised by my sister's cheerful voice inviting me to spend a couple days at her cottage.

Usually a visit there meant lots of people, lots of cooking and tons of noise. But her request meant just the two of us. Ah! Dreaming of the beauty that would surround me, giving me a quiet spot to relax, to read with no phones, dirty fingers or laundry, excited me. Quickly my excitement waned as I remembered my "to do" list. It included defrosting the deep freeze, thoroughly scrubbing the ceramic tiles which had been neglected for too long, answering speaking requests as well as writing assignments due later that week.

What a decision...the water in the lake or the water in the scrub pail? What would your choice be?

It's been said that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Now I don't want to be 'dull' so I chose the lake water, beautiful Lake Muskoka. Grabbing a few essentials (toothbrush and bathing suit), I set out for the three hour drive. On arrival, it only took minutes for hugs, then a sprint to the waters' edge. The calming effect of water sparkling like diamonds, the soft breezes creating unending ripples, and the bluest sky I'd seen in months, all convinced me that I had made the right decision.

Since we can't always go to a cottage, how do you incorporate recreation into your day? A break from the routine can inspire new ideas and energy.

What are some ideas you have used to have fun with your family?

Share with us your thoughts and ideas about the importance of Fun and Recreation throughout the year.

Whatever happened to fun?

What happens to fun as we grow up?

Having lived in a family filled with fun and laughter, I expected it to just remain an integral part of my life. In my early career years, I loved my work and had many friends who loved fun as much as I did. Living with 4 roommates in a home, we added fun to our everyday lives. Every weekend there were invitations to go skiing (living 1 hour away from Banff made this irresistible), potluck dinner parties with inventive themes, movie nights, and the hard-to-resist shopping marathons. As a new wife, I recall fun times being a natural ingredient in our marriage - lots of laughter and light-hearted moments.

When the children were young it was my dream 'job', celebrating life and laughter with these little enjoyable ones. Every day was an adventure.

I first noticed fun leaking out of our lives a few years later, as parental responsibilities became more challenging, and the stresses of life began pressing in. It happened without me noticing, until the day I heard my psychologist friend say, “The number one need of business and professional women is fun.” That just stopped me in my tracks. (and I happen to believe that it's the #1 need of all women). As I reflected on my friend's statement, I came to believe it was true of me. I agreed with her that I had been trying to nurture everyone else in my life, without nurturing myself. I had indeed depleted my resources, and there was precious little energy left, and no fun.
I began to resolutely put fun back into my life, and that of my family's.

When our daughter was going through a rough time, I promised to put so much fun into our lives that I hoped 'she wouldn't be able to stand it'! She started horseback riding lessons, and as I watched from outside the paddock, I observed her build a unique and special rapport with her horse. It was magic to watch her, and it added to her self esteem as well as adding fun to her days. We started going to a craft class in our small town, where we would spend an hour or 2 being taught a craft and walking out with the finished product. Soon the craft table was filled with women and their daughters (many of whom were friends we had recruited) We reinstated family nights for silly games and funny movies. We began camping together...certainly more fun for the kids, but I was game.

I also invited a group of women to a lunch one day. They were acquaintances from our church who I never had the time to get to know. We began a monthly lunch group at each others' homes, and called it 'The Fun Lunch Group.' It nurtured us every month - many laughs, and some tears as we grew very close and shared the ups and downs of life.

My older brother and I share jokes by email - he lives far away and I only see him once each year, but these laughs keep us close. My Mom and I also share a great sense of humour. We took a trip to Italy together and expected to have fun, but we turned into Lucy and Ethel, with a new and funny adventure every day.

Is there fun in your daily life? What things are fun for you?
I wonder if this is partly a generational issue - my 20 something daughter seems to have a lot of fun with little effort - is it easier for women under 40?
Are you able to take time out for things you think of as fun without feeling guilty?

Please let me hear from you - I speak to women of all ages, and would love to hear your comments.

Yours in Fun,
Darla

Women need fun!

A psychologist friend of mine told me that the top need of women today is fun. Does that surprise you? Apparently, as women, we are very good at nurturing everyone else at our expense. Are you working hard to put fun into your life this summer?

Do you build personal time into your summer schedule? How is it working for you?

Enjoy your summer!
Darla