I'm having too much fun out here. And so should YOU! Life's too short; we all should enjoy it to the utmost. So how can we begin living healthier, more fulfilling lives?
First things first. Take a look at the company you keep. Like it or not, the people in your life have a direct effect on the level of fun you experience. I'm not saying you should ditch your friends (well, maybe some of them). What I am saying is to dump all that negative energy that can suck the life out of you. Surround yourself with cool, smart, ambitious, like-minded folks who motivate you to keep yourself energetic, healthy, in shape and fired up! And don't be selfish and hog up all the motivational mojo. Return the favor. Make sure you do your fair share of encouraging and inspiring, too.
Work out! It's that simple. Whether it's moderate or extreme, you will churn up all those feel-good brain chemicals that keep you happy and smiling. This is just one of the many benefits derived from exercise. You feel good, look good and will have a positive attitude. And you're taking care of yourself. Can't beat that. Working out = one step forward. Sitting on the couch, surfing the net and stuffing your face with cookies.
Laughter. One word, a multitude of benefits. Laughter helps to lower stress, boosts your immune system and is a natural muscle relaxer. Studies show that it even lowers blood sugar levels and alleviates the symptoms of a cold. A sense of humor can also turn a tense situation into a peaceful resolution. So when was the last time you laughed so hard you almost needed CPR? Been a while? We need to change that. When you add humor to your everyday life, you will inevitably find joy in the simplest of things -- things that can otherwise become drudgery and boring. It can also open your eyes to the beauty in the undervalued and commonplace. Take time to appreciate the world and your role in it. Exploration is infinite, folks. Nature is awesome. Meet new people. Laughter will play a key role. We've all heard alcohol referred to as a social lubricant. Laughter is a social adhesive. It brings us all together. So go out and laugh your ass off. Tell a joke. Smile; it's infectious. Enjoy being alive. Just make sure someone in the group is CPR-certified.
I don't want to grow up. So I don't. Yeah, I'm 53-years-old, but my mind and body doesn't know that. They have no earthly idea and that's the way I want to keep it. Be young at heart. Be a kid. Do some pull-ups at the local jungle gym. Skip down the sidewalk -- make your neighbors nervous. I'm pretty sure all my neighbors think I'm crazy. Challenge your kids to a race. If you're feeling really good, challenge ALL the neighborhood kids to a race. Be silly, be daring.
Lastly, even though we're focusing on improving you, it's not all about you. Be the person you want to be, but don't forget to spread the love. Perform random acts of kindness. Paraphrasing Muhammad Ali, "Shake up the world!" by showing your generous side. It'll make you feel great. Find a charity that means a lot to you. Give back to your community. And when you're done there, take your talents to another community and help those good folks out. Volunteer. Be a coach. Mentor kids who need your help. They'll keep you young. So turn off the TV, get off the couch, step away from this screen or whatever else is taking up your precious time. Have fun out there. Trust me. There's enough (fun) to go around.