5 Fun Goals for the New Year

If you haven’t come up with any resolutions for 2015, I have a few fun things to consider.

1) Have fun with your hair, or nails, or shoes, or clothes. I changed my hairstyle this fall and it really made me happy (and I was told the new style made me look ten years younger!) So what seemed risky and scary at first was a total home run, and a good reminder that hair does many weird things, but at least it grows back. Some change to your appearance might have a great impact on your self esteem and joy. Sure, it’s vain, but God put us in bodies. Have fun within reason and…

2) Have fun with  your health care. Find joy in making appointments to the doctor and the dentist by making a self-care day of it. Celebrate the fact that you’re alive after these visits with a coffee, or new underwear, or a trip to a museum and a nice lunch.  And yes, add exercise to your list, but find a way to make it fun with  music, or a friend, or a new challenge that keeps you motivated. If we don’t take care of ourselves, who will? Besides that, being sick and weak and toothless is no fun. Just ask your friend who’s homebound with fill-in-the-blank. While you’re at it, take her some flowers.

3) Read a book then watch the movie. I chanced upon this on New Year’s Day after seeing Unbroken with my family. I read the book two years ago and watching the movie brought to life a gripping and memorable story. I’ve been wanting to tackle the 100 Books to Read Before You Die  and many were made into movies. I usually hate movies because I hate sitting still. In fact, I have never watched The Lion King all the way through and my kids won’t let me live it down. But I did watch a few movies over Christmas break and it was fun. I want to keep having fun in 2015.

4) Do less fault finding. You might not think of this as fun, but as you catch yourself complaining about people, you’re gonna have to laugh to keep from crying at how critical you are.  I confess that I am chief of sinners in this area, having grown up with a dad who spent his childhood in pool halls. For him, talking trash was a life skill, so my brothers and I also became proficient at sarcasm and sundry other forms of verbal warfare. Every time I choose to bite my tongue in 2015 instead of wag it, I will be able to celebrate a little. Think of how much happier you’ll be if you smile in traffic more and bark less. Maybe your frown lines will fade a little.

5) Have some spiritual fun. If you come away from quiet time feeling like you just completed your spiritual chores, maybe you’re too focused on yourself.  God’s word is filled with passages of comfort,  joy, hope, and promise. Do a study around happy themes like those, or study how much he loves you. Add music to your QT. Pick a passage of scripture and have fun memorizing it. Host a game night with the leaders, or the youth, or the women in your church. Or for your movie night, watch what my kids used to call “Jesus Movies.” There are tons of great films with Christian themes.

I am a workaholic. I am serious-minded. Having fun is usually low on my  list of priorities. But I had so much fun dancing at my daughter’s wedding reception in November, that I realized I needed to try having fun more often. Laughter is a gift from God, and I want to unwrap that gift a lot in 2015

^1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,
    I’m writing the book on your wonders.
I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
    I’m singing your song, High God.

Psalm 9.1,2