Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Checking Out DeeVee

 While at DeeVee's site the comments thread about this book focused on the concept of "Fun".
Many thought that the addiction to fun was the root of our general malaise.
But this is not the case - "Fun" is the best thing in life.
 Addicts are always seeking that first euphoric feeling.
What they are seeking is the unattainable fun of their first high.
Gambling addicts seek the feeling of their first big win.
Alcoholics seek the feeling of their first drunken night out.
Consumers seek the thrill of their first luxury purchase.
But these are not beneficial types of fun.
This first fun can never be attained again - unless one switches to even more and more powerful substances.
Many people die because of these harmful pursuits of these types of 'fun'.

 Religious men seek enlightenment.
The release of all fear, desire or ego.
The understanding that "...all is vanity..." and being okay with that.
These men seek and do the work to obtain that which is most important to them (which varies by person).
These men have left the rules and constraints of an unsustainable consumer driven culture behind.

 But "fun" takes work.
It's hard to be good - but it hurts to be great.
Great athletes have put in years of work to perfect their craft.
At this level, one is said to be "In the Zone".
Being the best is "Fun".
Excellence is 'Fun".

 Even in jobs thought to be menial - there are those who are thought to be the best.
This is often shown by adding a certain flair to everyday tasks.
Ones knowledge, skill and control is so complete that he can do things his own way.
He can invent new tricks.
He has fun because he has done the work to get to this point. 

"...Man is that he might have joy...", a often quoted book says.
But as adults we forget this.
We focus on that which does not matter.
We desire that for which we have no use.
We seek that which we will then put in a closet.
We desire the benefits of work without having to do the work.
But this leads to the same feeling as those addicted to drugs.
We need bigger, newer and 'better' things to get to this synthetic high. 

But many kids have real 'fun' wired.
Those not spoiled by the materialistic trappings of popular Americanism can enjoy themselves with less.
Their feelings are not fleeting but last a lifetime.

Think back to all the hard times you may have gone through.... .
Now talk about those times with someone who went through those times with you.
Are not these some of your best memories?
How much time, effort and money do you spend to get that same feeling these days?
How many cars does it take to get the same feeling of getting your first bike?
How much time do you spend in the gym to get the same exercise you used to get while playing with childhood friends?
How many women does one have to sleep with to get the same feeling as ones first kiss from some homely little girl?
How many movies do you have to watch to get the same feeling of the stories told to you by your grandmother?

"Fun" requires humility and humility (for many adults) requires work.

3 comments:

amanda said...

I think that fun is found only when the activity is not commercial but free. By this I mean that fun comes when playing and playing doesn't have a monetary cost. So the best fun my kids have had was repeatedly sliding through a mud puddle and I bet that if I had had the courage to join in that it would have been the best fun I could ever have had in life.

The best fun I have had in life was sprinting through hot rain, laughing at my hair plastered to my head and smelling all the wonderful fragrances that humidity releases.


I don't think elite athletes can have fun because what they do is hard work and requires a deep commitment.

The new Australian cricket captain recently got into trouble for talking about fun. Cricket at that level is not fun....it is business. And even at the grass roots level I am not sure how much fun it is when there is competition with winners and losers.

brohammas said...

Naw, I say the elite athletes are the ones who dont forget how to enjoy the fun. The best quit when the fun is gone (I miss you Barry).

Nice quote UBJ, you got me headed outside looking for a pickup b-ball game.

Anonymous said...

The most fun I have had was the feeling of being one with the sea when I used to surf. Also playing and laughing and rolling all over with my kids and grand kids. Taking a shower under a rain spout after a day at the beach.