Spring is a time of renewal and I feel like it’s time to renew my fun quotient.  This past weekend at Easter brunch my nieces were hysterically laughing most of the day.  They were having so much fun. Not at anything in particular, they changed activities quite often, but they were just plain enjoying themselves.

I think they’re geniuses.  They can have fun no matter where they are or who they are with–they take life as it comes and roll with it. I wondered to myself, why do we forget the fun and become that serious adult?  I think I do a pretty good job of having fun in my life, but it’s easy to get bogged down with adult responsibilities.

Here are some things I noticed about those lovely, laughing girls that can help anyone bring the happiness habit back to their life:

1) Be insatiably curious.  My nieces are always asking questions–why? who? how? what? when can we do that?  They want every little last detail because their beautiful brains are still blossoming.  Details expand us with ideas and opportunities.  Details encourage us to dig in and to look deeper.  Details are the fabric of everything that’s happening.  Look at the details more.

2) Find the joy in everything.  Have to go to the dentist? You get a free toothbrush! Got the stomach flu? You’ll lose a pound or two! If you look hard enough, you can find the good in everything; all you need is a change in perspective.  It’s like a cool habit you can practice at first, then soon it becomes second nature.

3) Don’t be afraid to look silly when trying new things.  When you’re trying something new, there’s always a little fear in it.  Fear can be a good motivator, just don’t let it hold you back. I know it’s not fun to fall on your face and have others laugh at you.  But guess what?  You’re much closer to succeeding at what you are trying than the people that aren’t.  Trying things out that may make you happy can catapult you to a new level of thinking.

4) Be in the moment.  Something else I noticed about those silly girls is that they rolled with everything throughout the day.  When there was music on, they started singing and dancing.  When I was making pancakes on the griddle, they asked if they could take a turn with the batter (which they turned into a funny design). They bounced from room to room checking out the scene, just living blissfully in the moment.

I was so grateful to be around them this weekend–they got me out of my winter funk and reminded me that there’s so much to be happy about.