Top 5 Simple Things I Do for Fun and Happiness

For me, fun is found in small, familiar moments that bring me back to myself. They’re what keeps me going through the tough times and challenges that come with everyday life. These are a few of the things that bring me comfort and a sense of liveliness.

Paint/Color:

I’m by no means an artist. I can barely draw a good looking stick figure. But it’s something that I enjoy doing regardless of whether it looks good or not. My friend since pre-school and I will usually do some sort of crafts when we get together and hang out. She actually inspired me to move on from the coloring book and start painting on canvas. I bought some pretty nifty stencils to help me create something worthy of being seen.

I think the reason I find painting and coloring to be so much fun is because it’s nostalgic. It brings me back to simpler times of just laughing and having fun creating something from nothing. I also find that it helps calm me down and soothe me when I’m feeling anxious and overwhelmed. The gentle brush strokes, the intense focus, the vision coming together. It’s just a small thing that I take great pleasure in.

Writing/Reading

Writing and reading is my way to escape reality for a bit. Writing has always been my passion. I love to express myself—thoughts, feelings, emotions—onto paper. It’s my outlet and source of therapy when I need to vent about frustrations or even just jot down a couple of happy moments. It’s always been my form of self-expression.

Reading offers its own type of magic. I love getting lost in a good story. There’s something inviting about the look, the smell, the feel of a new book. I get so giddy browsing around bookstores, taking my time to look through all of the adventures I could get into. I’ve currently been on a fantasy kick, and let me tell you, it’s become quite an obsession. Books have a way of offering glimmers of happiness and helping me leave my worries behind, if just for a little while.

Travel

One of my favorite things to do is travel. I hate the traveling part itself—the airport, the lines, the waiting—but once I arrive to a destination, it’s like I become a whole new person. Sure, there’s always constant underlying anxiety being in new places, but it doesn’t stop me from exploring what different cities and countries have to offer.

I’ve always been a history buff, so yes, please take me to all of the museums, famous architecture, and other notable places the region has to offer. I feel like I can begin anew. I can be whoever I want to be, and that’s usually a person whose mood is elevated—happy, curious, intrigued. All I want is to see it all and immerse myself into that history and culture.

I mostly just travel locally within the states, but each place I go to, I get that sense of freedom. Freedom to relax, breathe, and be the person who usually lies dormant—my happy self.

Food

Food might not sound like something fun to do, but it’s one of my favorite ways of creative expression. Cooking has always been a very grounding, therapeutic experience for me. But I must reiterate that I like to be in the kitchen alone. It’s my personal time to get lost into something I love.

Maybe this is a millennial thing, but there’s nothing that brings a brighter smile to my face than a nice spread of charcuterie and a glass of Italian red wine. I spoke to my therapist the other day, and we both talked about how charcuterie is really just an elevated, adult version of Lunchables. That made me laugh.

I enjoy trying out new restaurants, going to friend or family hosted dinners, or just simply cooking at home. Food is a part of my soul, and there’s nothing else truly that makes me feel happier. I honestly could talk about it for hours. It’s one of my special interests.

Baseball Games/Concerts

Baseball is another passion of mine. I live it, breathe it, and I’m consumed by it. When it’s the off-season, like it is now, I literally countdown the days to opening day. I grew up going to games with my dad all of the time. I blame him essentially for this obsession.

There’s nothing like the smell of the field, the taste of a classic beef hot dog, and the sights and sounds of a roaring crowd. I feel like I’m home whenever I’m at the stadium.

Concerts are another thing that I like to do for fun. I try to go to them as often as I can because there is nothing like being fully immersed in the music. You feel it, you hear it, you become it. It’s a guaranteed good time in my opinion. Music soothes the soul in ways that nothing else can. To hear someone sing the melodies of your life, to hear that you are seen and understood, is the best feeling in the world.

These are the things that help me feel connected to myself. They’re very meaningful to me, and it’s what I think helps the most to be my authentic self.

What are the small, simple things that bring you joy?

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”— Robert Brault