I came across this quote in a book I read, and it really made me stop and think.

I will finish by leaving you with a word that I would like to see totally expunged from the English language. Ladies and gentlemen, may I suggest you let fun out of your lives? For it is, brothers and sisters, a mongrel word, an ersatz word, a fast-food bucket of a word! What does it mean? Consider the shameful usage: “I was doing it for a bit of fun,” or “I thought it would be fun,” or “I was only having fun” and, worst of all, the little bit of white on the top of this chicken dropping, “Are we having fun yet?”

Why have fun when you could have enjoyment, amusement, entertainment, diversion, relaxation, sport, a bit of a lark, and satisfaction and probably contentment.

Fun pretends to be about enjoyment, but is merely about the attempt. In search of fun, people pull themselves towards places that advertise fun, but they are probably to be avoided, since, in my recollection, fun means trudging around a soaking wet seaside town wearing plastic raincoats that, no matter what you do, always smell of fish. All right, maybe I’m only having fun with you? –Terry Prattchet,  A Slip of the Keyboard

Lately, I’ve been trying to stop asking myself and others if we are having “fun” and instead asking  if I am enjoying myself, if I am happy, content, or relaxed. So, randomly doing things in front of a screen might be “fun” but I’m not really enjoying myself. Trying to have a “fun” bike ride isn’t relaxing when oldest son hates riding bikes. Looking for fun gets me nowhere. But looking for happiness and joy can. Sometimes it comes at random times…watching my children wander around the garden and bring me strawberries. Getting the biggest hugs picking up my son from school. Finishing a big project, eating pumpkin chocolate chip bread with my family, making a surprise birthday present. None of these things are really “fun” but they brought me more joy.

(I know one of my categories is fun, and it’s on the tagline of this blog. But I’ve got a nice alliteration going, so it’s staying.)

Switching gears, we had that big deal about the moon a while ago. It was disappointingly cloudy, and these pictures were as good as it got for us. I still enjoyed trying to see it with the boys, and there was a slim time when you could see a tiny bit so I was happy we did.