Lessons from Bordeaux  

Hi Fun Friend, are you worried your kind of fun isn’t “wild enough”?

Well, kick that worry to the curb—because the people of Bordeaux, France, have mastered the art of quiet fun without all the wild.

I just spent seven over-the-top fabulous days cycling through the off-the-beaten-path countryside of Bordeaux and let me tell you—this culture deserves a medal for how beautifully it embraces stillness.

And I mean quiet. Picture this: village streets with no one bustling about, no noise drifting from backyards—just the hum of nature and the rhythm of life moving slowly. Of course, my curiosity was on fire. Whenever I did bump into someone, the first thing I asked was: “How do you live lively here?

What does fun look like in all this quiet?” And guess what? The answer was the same every time.

👉 Fun in Bordeaux = treasuring peace.

The people in this part of the world find joy in visiting friends at home, fishing off the docks, tending vineyards, and simply living in harmony with their surroundings. The backdrop of vineyards, rural paths, and quiet villages isn’t just beautiful—it’s restorative. It’s a kind of fun that fills you up gently instead of burning you out. Now, you know me—I’m usually a “cooky fun” kind of gal. But this had me thinking… could quiet fun be just as powerful? Turns out—yes. Science says so.

🔎 The Research on “Quiet Fun” Researchers call it quiet recreation—mindful, low-key leisure that turns down the noise and turns up restoration. The results?

• Improved attention and focus
• Lower stress levels
• Even boosts in longevity And here’s the kicker:

In a recent analysis of four studies with more than 1,300 participants across four countries, people who saw leisure as “a waste of time” reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than those who valued simple leisure activities. If you want to dive deeper, Psychology Today’s article, “Why Leisure Is Never a Waste of Time,” is a fantastic read on why downtime and quiet activities are essential for health and happiness.

✨ So if your fun looks more like tea on the porch, a peaceful walk, or an evening with a good book by a roaring fire—guess what? You’re not “missing out” on all the wild, crazy fun.

Sometimes, the quietest moments create the loudest jolt of liveliness and vibrancy in our lives.  Yours in Fun Health, Treena xÂ