Hey Fun Friends, Yes! Yes, you can. And you should. In fact, if you’re feeling sad, or meh, or flat—allowing yourself to laugh and have a little fun will help you. Having fun and laughing—even when you’re sad—does more than just momentarily lift your spirits. It’s a well-researched, natural therapy that reduces stress and depressive symptoms. I know this to be true. When my mom was dying of stage 4 cancer, I brought her home to live with my husband and kids so we could care for her in her last months on this earth and soak up all of the final moments we could possibly have together. What I didn’t expect was this: A lot of laughter, silliness, goofiness, and guffawing. We had so much fun. What the?! I know that sounds a little whacky—even as I write this. In one of the darkest, saddest times of my life, I was having the time of my life laughing with my mama. 🟡We giggled our way through doctor appointments. 🟡We laughed through my mom’s last wishes, which included smoking marijuana for the first time in her life. 🟡And we had fun hearing what she thought about new experiences—like Reiki on her body to help with the pain. (Yes, she thought it was bunk!) The fun, play, and laughter helped me through the really hard, dark, sad parts—because I was laughing and having fun. I felt strong and resilient. You just have to allow yourself—give yourself permission—to have a little fun while you’re feeling all that sadness. You’re probably thinking, That’s not going to be easy to do. You’re right. But I hope that with my story—and with this research showing that it’s not only possible, but actually healthy to feel sad and still have fun or laugh—it might make it a little easier for you to try. Whether you’re going through a tough time right now, or you tuck this away in your Fun Tool Box for when life hits a pothole down the road… I hope it helps. Here’s what the Mayo Clinic and Harvard have to say about mixing fun into your sadness: 🔗 Mayo Clinic: Stress relief from laughter 🔗 Harvard: A laugh a day keeps the doctor away If this still feels too heavy or not possible yet, here are 2 simple places to start: 1) Fun-Minis Start with small doses of fun—watch a sitcom (note: I just watched The Studio—hilarious!), ask your friends to send you the silliest photo they have on their phone, or put on some lively music just because. Why it works: Even a brief moment of fun can trigger dopamine and reduce stress hormones, helping shift your emotional state. 2) Easy Play Play a silly card game (I love “Spot It”), try a goofy filter on your camera, or build a LEGO tower. These small acts of low-pressure play can create surprising joy—especially when there’s no outcome to “get right.” Why it works: Play taps into your inner child and resets your brain’s reward system—boosting mood and lowering stress without a big energy demand. I hope this letter helps you or a friend today if you need it—or in a time when you might need it down the road to lighten the heavy load on your heart. Fun is good for our wellness, not only in the good times, but also when you might need it the most. Yours in Fun Health, Treena x Ps. If you know someone who can use tools, tips and reminders to prioritize fun, laughter and play in their lives to better their wellness, please have them sign up to these email letters here and have them join the FUN Movement Community. Would love to have them ❤️ |