I usually send out my newsletter on the 23rd of every third month. Since 2007, I’ve never skipped a quarter until now. This is the fiftieth edition, and it was meant to be a big deal. And then … well, you know the rest. Instead of pushing something out March 23 that didn’t feel right, I decided the best thing to do was push pause for a quarter.
Having fun is going to be more critical than ever when we arise from this mess. However, with the tenor and importance of the climate of change, as we find ourselves at this moment, it’s important to remind ourselves that it is perfectly OK if we don’t feel OK. Fun is always there, waiting for us when we are ready. Honestly, as much as I love fun, I haven’t been that ready for it lately, either. Nonetheless, I find comfort knowing it’s there to save me once again when I am.
I have been keeping busy working on the book, The Fun Habit. I officially have a publisher now, and it looks like the book will come out by the end of next year (or soon after). I am fortunate that I have been working with a fantastic team to get it together. This group includes David Moldawer, Sara Grace, Ursa Bratun, Hayley Riggs McGhee, and Bryan Wish. Since this edition of the newsletter also marks the hundredth thought leader interview, I decided to turn the tables on myself for this milestone and have the team ask me some questions. A link to that Q&A can be found below.
Next quarter, I have something special planned. Before COVID changed everything, Hayley and I went through every interview to gain a piece of wisdom from each interviewee. That information is now packaged in an eBook called the Wisdom of 100.
I look forward to gifting it to you next quarter. Until then, I hope you enjoy interviews No. 99 and 100.
Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter is a leading expert in mature ego development and self-actualization. She is the strategic advisor and research director for Vertical Development Academy, which focuses on consulting, assessment, coaching, and research dedicated to facilitating leadership maturity in individuals, teams, and organizations. Dr. Cook-Greuter is the creator of VeDA’s Maturity Profile, MAP, and its assessment methodology. Our interview about our ego and its relationship to fun can be found here.
Mike Rucker, Ph.D.; hopefully, you know me by now. I’m a peer-reviewed author and writer. For several years, I managed the health technology content section for VerywellHealth.com. In 2016, I became passionate about the science of fun. My book The Fun Habit, is set to release in 2021. It offers a practical reframing of positive psychology, arguing that we should cultivate fun to bring a greater sense of happiness to our lives. Learn a bit about the science of fun by clicking here; this quarter, I’m on the hot seat for a change.
Reminiscing about this quarter’s life experience in retrospect seems surreal. The weekend Disney was preparing to close down its Magic Kingdom, we were one of the last to spend an evening with Cinderella at her Royal Table. Knowing what we know now, we may have done things differently. Luckily, we made it home unharmed, and our daughter got to feel like a princess for a day before lockdown.
My contributions over the past six months went to the following worthy organizations: Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, MiracleFeet, Prostate Cancer UK, Seattle Homeless Services, YMCA, Bay Area Heart Walk, AfroChicano Press, and Magicana.
It is not lost on me that last year I was planning for us all to have our “Year of Fun” in 2020. Clearly, that is not going to happen for many of us. However, hopefully, you are still finding ways for meaningful leisure—a bit of fun or peace that fits your personal circumstance and preferences, even if that is just making the space to do nothing once in a while. Things aren’t great right now, but we are still here. Tomorrow marks the fourth anniversary of my brother’s death. If you are reading this, there is still life to be lived, adventures to be had, and things to be grateful for. We will find our way back to fun soon enough.
“The bow cannot always stand bent, nor can human frailty subsist without some lawful recreation.”
—Miguel de Cervantes
Yours in fun,
Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
