It’s spring! A season of reawakening and new energy. These days, I look at spring like I used to look at the start of a new school year. As nature wakes up, so do I. I find myself with more energy and eager to dip into new projects.
And this past week, I have been following the fun!
I did something I haven’t done in a few years. One of the ways I feed myself creatively is by taking photos. I’ve done a few sessions for friends, and one or two strangers, but I haven’t taken on any clients since the kids were born. These days, my camera only comes out for occasional quick snapshots of the kids.
Reigniting the Fun
Since the beginning, I’ve also taken all the photos that are on the blog. (There are a few exceptions, but if I don’t link back to the original source, the image is one of mine.) I like staging and setting up still-life photos. But it’s been a very long time since I’ve had the energy or time to devote to such a project. Most of the images I use here are just quick pictures I’ve taken on my phone.
Lately, I’ve been wanting some new, higher-quality “stock” images to use. I have some from 2020, and those older photos have been serving me well. But I still wanted something new and more up to date. I wanted to evoke the same ideas of creativity and productivity, as well as feelings of coziness, comfort, rest, and enjoyment.
Really, I think I was craving some creative play. My heart was pulling me to follow the fun before my body and brain were ready.
Let the Fun Begin
The other weekend, while out on a rare day date with my husband, I got some grocery store flowers. I knew those flowers had a limited lifespan. If I wanted to use them in photos, I couldn’t wait too long.
So, last week, I cleared off the desk in the office, which normally holds my husband’s books and papers (don’t worry, I asked permission first). Then, I shopped my house for props. I opened boxes and pulled out trinkets I haven’t seen in over a year.
Honestly, I was a bit nervous about the project. It’s been a long time since I’ve really delved into a photography project. I haven’t worked with such intention in a long time.
But, funnily enough, once I started, it was like riding a bike.
It was a multiday project. I cleared off spaces and upended one entire room in our house. I even got up early one morning so I could get the better light. I set up equipment that I haven’t pulled out in years. Of course, it was a lot of work. It took up a lot of the little free time that I have each day.
And man, was it fun.
Keep It Simple
I’m learning I don’t follow the fun enough. The kids and I have our daily routines, and we largely stick to them. But upending our routines in favor of something new and different is sometimes needed. Every now and then, it’s important to follow the fun.
Following the fun can look like all kinds of things. It could be dancing while sweeping the floors or doing the dishes. Or maybe it’s skipping the cleaning altogether and setting the guilt aside, in favor of doing something unexpected.
It could be joining a fun, one-off local event like a LEGO swap at the mall. Or grabbing ice cream as an unexpected detour on the way home. Maybe say yes to that impromptu playdate this time. Pull out the paints or Play-Doh more often. Slather on the sunscreen, take a walk, and really pay attention to what you see.
Following the fun doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t even have to be outside of our normal routine. But it does require us to pay attention, to say yes, to choose something that brings us joy.
Like slicing up a banana when my kids say they’re still hungry after breakfast. When they ask for a few crackers, I say yes, and they build a car with banana wheels and a cracker engine. That little car went on some adventures before it was finally eaten.
Practice Following the Fun
Following the fun sometimes means saying yes to big projects, like painting or planting a garden. But it can also be found in small, joy-filled moments in everyday life.
Stop and watch a bird in the yard.
Read a book and drink a glass of wine or tea after the kids go to bed.
Light a new candle.
Make fancy coffee at home.
Have a bubble fight with your spouse while cleaning up after dinner.
For my kids, following the fun is often as simple as dumping out all the toys during playtime. It looks like filling up the small plastic orange wagon with trinkets and running the circle between the living room, kitchen, and dining room.
Usually, following the fun looks like playing. It doesn’t look like work. But often it is. It’s the work of learning, exploring, and staying curious in everyday life. Sometimes it’s messy. Almost always, it’s an intentional carving out of time to do something that brings you joy, in a world that’s so quick to take joy away.
We can forget to look for fun in the routine. But what if we made it part of the routine? What if we made it a regular, expected part of life? Kids do.
What looks like fun to you these days? How can you work more of it into your everyday routine?
When we’re open to it and looking for it, following the fun becomes easier. The yes becomes easier.
The world is heavy. Every day brings so many emotions, both positive and negative, on personal and global scales. We are fed so much information, and we carry so much every day. Maybe it’s time we do our best to set it down for a time and follow the fun.
