Fun: The other F-word

Today on the Happiness Project blog, Gretchen Rubin is hitting a nerve. In her post, Measure What You Want To Manage she makes the point that the goals we are most likely to achieve are the ones that are countable, measurable. For example, “Keep in touch with my friends,” is a harder goal to keep than “Call one friend a week,” because the first is general, while the second is specific and quantifiable.

I agree. I’ve been trying to do that. I have all these touchy-feely goals that I attempt to quantify. “Write more” becomes “Write 3-4 pages every day”; “Find my elusive inner romantic” becomes “Two date-nights every month”; “Make time to read” becomes “Read 20 books this year.”  All very quantifiable, right? But here’s the catch. I am often completely stressed out by myself.

Recently, Chad was suggesting we do something fun, and I was like, “I can’t. I have to read this novel. If I don’t finish now, I’ll never make my reading goal for the year.” Almost as soon as I said it (as Chad was questioning the wisdom of an annual reading goal) I realized he was proposing a date night activity – a monthly goal I was also at risk of not making if we didn’t go somewhere soon. Holy cow! Over-achiever gold-star conundrum! I suggested this amazingly brilliant solution. “Let’s go out, but I’ll read my book on the way there and back, that way I won’t waste any time.”

Yeah, I know. Good thing he loves me, right? He said, “Are you enjoying the novel?” which was just the right question because that’s when it hit me. If everything’s a goal, when do I have fun?

I realize now that I do this all the time. I go on a hike and walk as fast as I can so the workout is more intense. Communing with nature is not as measurable as the goal of fitting into my skinny jeans… but only one makes the hike itself matter – not just as a means to an end, but as a destination in itself.

I don’t have enough NOW in my life.

So here’s my idea. I’m going to start carrying a camera around with me. It’s hard to power through a hike or a Lexi walk, if I’m stopping to take pictures, right? I won’t speed by all the scenery between Point A and Point B, if, in between, I’ve got my eye out for cool shots. (FYI, I’m a lousy photographer. I guess I say that by way of apology. You may be seeing more pictures here soon.)

And since this is definitely an area I need to work on, I’m looking for suggestions. How do you do it – keep track of all the things you need to do, but also enjoy the moments you’re in?

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And now for something completely different. At Emma’s Tea Shop for Old Ladies, Emma has dreamed up 23 inventions that make me smile. Everything from Shower Karaoke to Dissolving Chewing Gum. Think of the possibilities!