Recently, on Instagram, I shared that there’s a saying that goes, “Writers write the book they need to read.” I didn’t create The Fun Habit because fun comes naturally to me. On the contrary, joy is often a slippery state, so maintaining it requires a deliberate approach. I have to admit, though, that I have been so pleasantly surprised by how this message is simply hitting differently going into 2025. Fun is no longer seen as just an urgent call to action; it’s something that is being fully embraced by the zeitgeist.
I think a big reason for this is that we now have better data—data that has exposed the conjecture supporting a Puritan work ethic as essentially nonsense (if not harmful). For example, in a recent study looking at people most satisfied with life, can you guess what the #1 predictor is? Having a lot of fun.
I recently attended a leadership summit with Mindbody, one of the world’s biggest enterprise wellness companies. According to Mindbody’s most recent Wellness Index, one out of three people now agrees that the path to well-being is prioritizing fun and play.
On a personal front, I was humbled to find out that the hardback English edition of The Fun Habit is essentially sold out. Amazon still has copies from a few third-party retailers, but only limited copies are left. The good news is that the mass-market paperback is currently on sale. If you were lucky enough to get a hard copy, it looks like you now have a collector’s edition! If you haven’t gotten a copy of The Fun Habit yet, or you’d like a copy of the second edition, you can get yours at a discounted price by clicking here.
Jodi Wellman is the founder of Four Thousand Mondays. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s MAPP program, Jodi’s work combines research and real-world insights to help people live more intentional lives. Our interview touches on how contemplating death can inspire living a life without regrets. You can access our full conversation by clicking here.
Linda Ugelow is a speaking confidence coach, international speaker, and author. With a background in expressive therapy and decades of performance experience, she helps clients transform public speaking from a fear to a joy by teaching them her unique approach to turning dread into delight. You can read our full interview here.
The Mindbody Summit (I mentioned above) was held in Missoula, MT. All I knew about Montana before arriving there was from watching the television show Yellowstone over my wife’s shoulder from time to time. Wow! What an amazing town. It beat all my expectations. Life experience this quarter came when some of the good folks at Mindbody offered me the opportunity to float down the Clark Fork River. Taking advantage of the offer is something I talk about in The Fun Habit—the idea of “working the perks.” Whether you’re employed or self-employed, sometimes we forget that our work lives often provide options for fun and joy outside the grind. Although I didn’t hesitate to accept the offer, it did compete with the option of spinning down in my hotel room (an idea that had a bit of appeal, given we were at the end of a few long days). I feel so fortunate I took my own advice and “did the thing.” Rafting that day created the opportunity to make new friends and, over the next 24 hours, have some really transformative conversations. As the saying goes, if you want a twist of fate, start twisting.
A lot of contribution this quarter: I donated to the following organizations: American Heart Association, Surfrider Foundation, HiTOPS, Laekyn’s Fight for Recovery (in support of Bruce Quickel’s daughter), Special Olympics Maryland (in support of Mike Ord), Pass the Bricks (in support of Miles Meyer), as well as donated my time to the ongoing work I am doing with one of Grapevine‘s giving circles, which this quarter benefited Greensboro Literary Organization.
I know I have said it many times before, but I am going to keep saying it. My sincere appreciation goes out to all of you for helping make The Fun Habit such a success. Between the last time we connected and now, I found out the book has been translated into two additional languages: Polish and Chinese. Also, this quarter, I was informed that Goody Business Books has awarded me their Top Impact Author award.
So, again, thank you! I wish you and your loved ones a fall season filled with as much fun as you can handle.
With gratitude,
Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
P.S. If you’ve enjoyed The Fun Habit and found its insights valuable, please consider leaving a review on Amazon (you can do that by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the left-hand column on the product page where there’s a button ‘Write a customer review’). Your feedback will help others discover how to bring more joy into their lives, make a positive impact on their well-being, and create the opportunity for someone else to benefit from a fresh perspective on enjoying life. 🙌