Hi Fun Friend, have you ever been invited into a complete stranger’s home to use their washroom? Because, well, you had to go THAT badly? And somehow you ended up meeting Grandma, the daughters, the aunties next door, and the cousins who were all curious to meet visitors from another country? Before you knew it, you were sitting in their living room, enjoying homemade snacks, belly laughing, and having lively conversations in very broken English. TWO HOURS LATER… They were inviting you to stay for dinner. And if you didn’t already have accommodations booked, they wanted you to spend the night. All because my friend needed to pee. True story. I can’t make this stuff up. Meet the wonderful people of Albania You know those salt-of-the-earth people who are SO genuinely kind that your Spidey senses start tingling? What’s going on here? Why are these people being so dang nice? Surely they must want something? Nope, the Albanians are so authentically kind, they’re also (you guessed it!) playful, lively, and FUN. The entire package. I left Albania with more than a few crushes. (Shhh… don’t tell my husband!) So, what’s their secret to fun? Curious, I started asking questions. I talked with young adults, middle-aged adults, and elders. And surprisingly, their answers were remarkably similar. It all came back to one word… hospitality. Inviting people in. Sharing food. Welcoming neighbors. Gathering, talking, walking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Hospitality wasn’t reserved for special occasions. It was simply how they lived. No Formal Invitations. No Hostess Gifts. No Elaborate Plans. Albania has deep cultural roots in hospitality, including a tradition called besa, associated with trust, honour, keeping one’s word and welcoming guests. And did I experience that firsthand. What started as a desperate bathroom break turned into an unforgettable afternoon of human connection. What does hospitality have to do with FUN? Everything. Every invitation opens the door to conversation Every new person brings fresh stories, curiosity, and spontaneity When people feel genuinely welcomed, they relax, open up, tease each other, and LAUGH. Fun happens naturally when we make room for other people Even the Albanian tradition xhiro, an evening stroll through town celebrates this connection. People head outside to meet friends, catch up with neighbors, and enjoy simply being together. No expensive entertainment, no special occasion — the people are the occasion. It got me thinking… Have we become so busy, scheduled, and protective of our time that we’ve forgotten the fun of simply welcoming people in? We schedule coffee dates weeks in advance. We worry our homes aren’t clean enough for company. And sometimes we’re just too busy to be spontaneous. What if we invited friends into our messy kitchens, asked a neighbor to join us for a walk, or lingered over dinner because the conversation was just too good to end? My biggest fun lesson in Albania Hospitality isn’t just about opening your home. It’s about opening your LIFE to other people. The Albanians I met reminded me that fun doesn’t always need to be planned, purchased, or pursued. Sometimes you create it simply by making someone feel welcome. If Albania taught me anything, it’s this— the more room you make for PEOPLE, the more room you make for fun. And to think, I learned all this because my friend really, REALLY needed to pee 🩷 you’re already living. 🎧RECENTLY ON THE FINDING FUN EXPERIMENT PODCAST “How to Have More Fun in Life (By Discovering What’s NOT Fun)” I explore why things that are supposed to be FUN just aren’t fun anymore. The girls’ trips, book clubs, parties, family traditions, or activities everyone else seems to LOVE—but you secretly don’t? Discover… ° Why things that used to be fun, sometimes aren’t anymore. ° Why your version of fun, doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. ° How to create your own NOT-FUN List to rediscover what brings you joy. 🎙️Apple Podcast 🎙️Spotify Podcast 🎙️YouTube Helping you to bring vibrancy, passion and fun back into everyday life — for the women who’ve lost it, and the organizations ready to build healthier, more energized teams around it. ~ Treena Innes, Your Fun Expert Workshops. Speaking. Consulting. Emcee. |
