Hey there,
Good morning and happy Sunday to you,

Last week’s newsletter was about having more balance and fun in our lives, and that’s what I’m really grateful for this week – the reminder to have that because I had a lot of that all week long, and it felt really, really good.

How about you? What are you grateful for today? I ask this of you every week because I know how busy life can get. When we have a slammed week, we often take so much for granted. My hope is this little question will help you remember just how blessed you really are in this moment.

EASY FUN

There are all kinds of things that happen in life that most of us agree are fun. Let’s call this fun “easy fun.”
For example, have you ever ridden a jet ski? If you have, you know it’s impossible to not have a HUGE smile on your face the ENTIRE time.

Jet skis are easy fun!

Hanging at a live concert with friends while dancing and singing to your favorite band is easy fun.

Going to a Giants-Dodgers game and kicking the Dodgers’ ass is really easy fun (that was for you, Bubba – the biggest Dodgers fan I know).

Watching a beautiful sunset with good friends.

Monkeys and puppies.

Easy fun.

Universal fun.

…You get the idea.

Then there’s fun that maybe only we think is fun.

For example, I think it’s fun to sit at a counter of a very crowded restaurant and watch the cooks pull off not getting crushed by the orders. Watching the chaos and talent come together is fun for me.

It’s also fun for me to go to an early matinee and sit in a dark movie theater by myself.

Those are a few for me. How about you? What is something you think is fun or that you do that most likely is just your own fun thing? (I really want to know, so share that with us on our Artistic Family Facebook page!)

WISE FUN

I’m working on a different kind of fun these days, and that’s what I want to share with you.

I call it “Wise Fun,” and I’m finding it to be quite life changing.

It’s very simple but not easy.

Before I share it I need to give a brief context. Years ago I read a quote from the Dalai Lama that really hit me. He was asked, “What surprises you most about humanity?” His answer: “Man surprises me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived. Man needs to relax more and have more fun.”

My dad is 88.

My mom is gone.

My daughter is 23 next month

I have a sister who is dying of cancer.

I had a big health scare recently.

And I’m 58.

These facts – and they are facts – have been on my mind a lot lately. And it’s not like I’m freaking out about getting older or dying. I’d tell you if that’s what it was, but that’s not what’s happening at all.

Nope, what’s happening is actually the opposite of that, and it’s very calming and healthy.

What’s happening is these facts are simply helping me embrace, on a whole new level, just how precious this life is. This has led me to fall into something very cool: wise fun.

Wise fun is rooted in this very clear commitment to my life: I no longer want to WASTE A MOMENT OF MY LIFE BEING STRESSED OR UPSET.

I want to be happy instead.

At all times.

THE KEY – FINDING FUN IN NO-FUN

It’s easy to have fun when you’re having fun. I’m finding the real gift is finding the fun in no-fun.
So the second I’m doing anything or I’m in a situation that begins to create tension, frustration, impatience, anger – anything negative, I make the choice to let it go and replace it immediately with this thought: I don’t want to give away another precious moment of my life being stressed or angry. I want to be happy. So I am actually going to enjoy this “problem/situation/injustice/screw job” from life instead.

I’m going to smile and have fun even in this no fun. Especially in this no fun!

The catalyst for all this came to me when I recently read another teaching on this topic of just how precious our human experience is: “Do I remember at every moment that I am dying, and everyone and everything else is, so treat all beings at all times with compassion?  Has my understanding of death and impermanence become so keen and so urgent that I am devoting every second to the pursuit of enlightenment?”

TODAY’S EXPERIEMNT

I am positive today will provide you with several opportunities to get upset with someone, something, or some situation.

When this gift happens ask yourself the following, “Am I willing to give away another moment of my precious life to being unhappy/angry/whatever?”

If the answer to this question is no, then simply let it go.

And it is that simple – again not easy, but that simple.

I’ve found this commitment to being happy to be life changing. My hope is it will bring you some beautiful gifts as well.

Try it and let me know how it goes and what you learned from it.

WALK THE TALK

Ready for something crazy?

This is the second time I’m writing this newsletter because, while nearing the very end of the first one,

Microsoft Word crashed, and I lost the entire document because I hadn’t save it.

My first reaction was @*(#$%^$#&^$(@&^(@!^&*.

My second reaction was, “Hey life, very ironic and very funny!”

My third reaction was, “Man, what a gift” because I then smiled a really big smile and flipped this shitty situation into something that made me happy and made rewriting this entire newsletter FUN.

I hope you have one of the most fun days of your life – especially with the no-fun stuff.

Let me know how it goes please, and know that I’m really happy we’re on this journey together.

My very best always,
Jim

VIDEO TEACHING AVAILABLE

If you weren’t able to join us, a video teaching about the keys to creating your dreams, your breaks, and your good fortune is still available for the same fee as those who registered – $20. If you’d like a copy just hit reply and we’ll send you the payment link and after that, the teaching.

Of course, if you’re not thrilled I’ll give you a full refund –no questions asked.