Sometimes, the simple things are more fun and meaningful than all the banquets in the world,” E.A. Bucchianeri.

Confession – I am not one who practices work/life balance very well. I am a home grown Midwest Girl with a strong work ethic. A work ethic that causes me to be the first one in to work and the last one out of work. I love to work, and I love the feeling that comes from putting forth a full day’s effort and investing into the lives of those I serve on a daily basis.

As I enter this middle-age phase of life and become more aware of my limitations, aka stamina, it is apparent to me how important having FUN helps me to replenish my empty cup (soul).

Fun comes packaged in many different ways for me. It can be a walk with my daughter; a hike with my husband; watching a movie with my son; talking on the phone with my Midwest peeps; watching the sunset; sitting by the pool; cooking a favorite meal; ordering take out; grabbing a cup of coffee while running an errand; or daydreaming about a trip.

The older I get the more I realize FUN for me = CONNECTION. It means sharing a special smile at the grocery store with a young mom who is dealing with a teary toddler; or an elderly person who needs help wrestling a grocery cart free from the string of other carts.

These simple connections also apply to our office atmosphere and our day-in-day-out activities assisting our Veteran students with their class selections or calling and speaking with a VA Representative in good ole Oklahoma. No matter what we are presented with, we can make a connection through a friendly smile or friendly banter. This too is fun.

Simple fun in our work place and interactions with others elevates morale and productivity. When we keep things simple, we are not allowing the confusion of words; thoughts; assumptions or attitudes to get mixed in.

Introducing fun in higher education feeds the fire that burns deep within our students. We can ignite the flame that is almost burned out by fanning the flame using a gentle answer (signifying a gentle breeze). This approach allows the fire to grow.

Ahhhh, yes, this simple act reminds me of a good bonfire in the darkest of nights. Nothing spells fun like a messy SMORE;-))

Thank you for stopping by and reading ~ Jody (aka Midwest – that’s what my office peeps call me).