Dear Reader Column 03-13-08

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Dear Reader,

A friend of mine is learning how to have fun, or perhaps re-learning is more accurate. My friend is in her 40s, having fun came naturally when she was a kid, but somewhere along the way, she adopted the idea that adults need to do things with a purpose.

"What's the purpose of having fun and being silly?" she wondered.

I could see her point. I'm motivated to get my work done, even when I don't feel like it, because work equals lights, groceries and house payment. So what's the purpose of hoola-hooping, or blowing bubbles, or cutting out pictures of cats, laminating each one and then stringing them around my house? "Just because it makes me smile and it feels good," I told her.

Adults are supposed to be responsible and work hard. People pat you on the back, say nice things about you and they might even give you an award. "She's so talented, such a hard worker." But thankfully the past few years, I've been playing as much as I've been working and you know what? I get more done mixing the two.

A few weeks ago when I was in New York City on business, it was strange because at every single one of my appointments, at some point in the conversation we talked about how people want to have fun. Of course we were all in agreement that reading is fun, but we also talked about the silly, child-like things that make us smile. Blowing bubbles, playing with finger puppets, flying kites and coloring--one publishing executive was smiling and laughing as she confessed that behind closed doors she gets out her coloring book and box of 64 crayons.

I had so much fun talking about fun at my appointments that I was inspired to send boxes of fun to some of the publishing executives I'd met with and the boxes were a hit.

"Suzanne, lovely to meet you last week. You must have been over the moon with happiness when you were baking your batch of cookies for us. They are absolutely delicious. The whole office is in love. And thank you for the surprise box that came in the mail today! What fun!! I, the responsible one, refrained from blowing bubbles until 5:01 pm, but my other two colleagues caused quite a ruckus with their gifts this afternoon!"

Apparently a good time was had by all!

If you need some lessons on how to have fun, I have some FUN BOXES to give away to readers, just like the ones I sent to the publishing executives in New York City. To see the Fun Boxes and to enter the giveaway go to: http://tinyurl.com/37dgxg

Have fun today--and thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[Beth]

Hi, Suzanne:

Yes, having fun and being silly are necessary, in my opinion. I'm very lucky, in that my job as a children's librarian lets me have fun on a very regular basis. Here's a way to combine reading and fun - read "The Stinky Cheese Man" by Jon Scieszka out loud...to a child, another adult, or just to yourself. You won't believe how much fun that story is. :)