I’m a big fan of fun. Fun is an essential component to leading a rich and fulfilling life. I deeply believe that fun’s importance in life is overlooked because it is such a small word. If it had 8 or 11 letters and a couple of the more popular vowels, then we’d see some proper respect.

Fun is defined as “what provides amusement or enjoyment, specifically playful action or speech”. Doesn’t that just about say it all. That definition just inspires the reader to go out and see what this fun stuff is all about. Even ol’ Noah Webster can’t take the fun out of fun.

One of the reasons that the word fun still conjures up carefree images is because it has yet to be coopted by the pop psychology crowd like happiness was. You see happiness has to be analyzed now in order to fully understand the concept. I once read, “The moment that you ask yourself if you are happy, you cease to be happy.” Oh just shut the f**k up! Don’t worry, though. Fun is still ok. That is until you see that book on Amazon, “Fun: What Is It and How Can You Obtain It.” Then, the fun is over.

Having fun is one of the most important ingredients in living a full and enviable life, perhaps even one of the causes of a rich life. Think of all the people that you know who obviously never had any fun, not even was babies. Mitch McConnell, Clarence Thomas, Mrs. Clarence Thomas, the Taliban (the whole bunch), Governor Abbott of Texas, every “Karen” with a video online, everyone who feels that women should not have control over their bodies, and on and on. Are any of these the people who you would like to emulate? Has anyone ever said, “You know that Mitch McConnell seems like he’s having a blast.” Nope.

Now, how about some on the other side: Paul Newman, Ted Kennedy, AOC, Elton John, Senator John Fetterman, George Clooney, President Obama, Michelle Obama, Larry David, and so many others. You may not admire each and every one of these people, but you must admit that they look and act like people who have had some fun in their lives. Good for them. John Kennedy had it; Herbert Hoover didn’t.

Of those 2 lists above, which one would you rather be on? If it’s not the second, please leave this site. If it is the second, are you living a fun life?

Personally, I try to participate in “playful action and speech” as often as I can. Sometimes missing out, of course, but mostly succeeding.

I played basketball for almost 40 years. Played ball in 37 states; in gyms and on playgrounds all over the country; mostly competitive, but some leisure ball; but always fun. Fun for 38 years. I quit on my 45th birthday because, well, I like the big gesture, but mostly because I could no longer do what I had always done. So, I took up tennis. Lots of matches all over Atlanta with lots of teammates and partners and lots of laughs. Moved to Hilton Head and one day I realized that tennis was no longer fun. Enter pickleball and back to having fun. All three of those sports enhanced my life in untold ways but mostly by adding a constant source of fun in the life of a professional with a family and lots of responsibilities.

I laugh often and, I think, help others to laugh, too. I remain irreverent (that helps in going through life), facetious, and occasionally sarcastic, but never hurt anyone’s feelings. If your “fun” continually causes hurt and embarrassment, it is not fun and you’re an asshole. Go away.

As I said, the importance of fun is overlooked and it is often lost in the tumult of modern life. I think mental health providers should ask their patients about their fun: do they have fun, how they have fun, how often, how recently. I am not foolish enough to suggest that fun seeking is a cure to depression or suicidal tendencies. The human mind is much more complicated. Fun is no panacea, but fun also gets lost in our lives and in the lives around us.

So, go have fun however you might define it. Have fun by yourself and have fun with others. Have fun in different ways. Have fun here, there, and everywhere. But, HAVE FUN.

I hope that after I’m gone the epitaph on my tombstone will read something like, “Here lies Michael McGeehin: a good friend, son, brother, husband, and father. Most importantly, he had fun over his 130 years.” However, I’ve been told that it looks like it’ll be cremation and then out on the curb for collection. Doesn’t sound like fun.