1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: Hello, my friend. We are back with another episode of 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Love Someone, and this one is gonna be fun. We've 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: got Nashville, Tennessee's best selling author. She's a popular speaker. 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: She does her own podcast. Her name is Annie f. Downs. 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 1: She's with us today, and she has written the book 6 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: on fun. Literally, I'm not kidding. Her book That Sounds Fun, 7 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: The Joys of being an Amateur, The Power of Falling 8 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby. It was 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: released in February. She is the host of a very 10 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: popular podcast, also called That Sounds Fun, as well as 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: the founder of the That Sounds Fun Network. At this point, 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: I'd say it's safe to say she is an expert 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: on the topic of fun. Annie has been described as engaging, honest, 14 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: a straight shooter who doesn't shy away from really tough topics. 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: Like me, she seems to revel in time shared with 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: friends and family and belly laughs. After the crazy train 17 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: that we've been on in and into one, I think 18 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: we need fun. We need to rethink fun. We need 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: more fun, not as something we might get to after 20 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: all our of our other priorities are taken care of, 21 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: but something that we must prioritize right up there with 22 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: our physical and spiritual needs. We need fun, We need laughter. 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: You know the expression laughter is the best medicine. It is, 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: it truly is. We need lots of laughter and joy 25 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: and fun. Annie speaks to how we need it to survive. 26 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: That fun is actually life saving medicine, and she's going 27 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: to share some great tips on how to put the 28 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: fun and the joy back in our lives. We're going 29 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: to jump into the necessity of sanity saving Shenanigans. Oh boy, 30 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: do I like Shenanigan's Right after I give my podcast 31 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: sponsor the shout out that they deserve. Mercy Ships is 32 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: our newest sponsor to this podcast. Every conversation we have 33 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: here is about helping, about loving, about building community. There's 34 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: a large group a community that support Mercy Ships. This 35 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: is an organization that sends ships that have been converted 36 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: into fabulous hospitals to some of the poorest communities in 37 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: the world and gives free surgeries to people who need 38 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: it most. I support their work because I know the 39 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: real difference, the life and death difference they make by 40 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: their good work. I encourage you to go to Mercy 41 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: Ships dot org slash love to learn more. Mercy ships 42 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: dot org slash love. It will do your heart good, 43 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: it will change your heart, it will speak to your 44 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: heart and such a powerful way. That's mercy ships dot 45 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: org slash love. Welcome Annie Downs to love someone. I 46 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: am so glad that we are talking about this topic 47 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: because for years, for years, some people I won't mention names, 48 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: but some people in my immediate family, some people that 49 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: I was married to once upon a time. Some people 50 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: think that I am a little Craig Craig because I 51 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: love to have fun and I will go to great 52 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: lengths to have fun and to do ridiculous, absolutely stupid, 53 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: practical jokes to people. And I love that you celebrate 54 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: corny fun. So which came first? Your book, your podcast, 55 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: or your passion for belly laughs? Well, you know, for me, 56 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: Delilah Prazards, thanks for having me on today. But for me, 57 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: the I think what came first is just my natural 58 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: love of fun. Like I kind of was just born 59 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: this way and built this way. And so what I 60 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: had to face first was when all my friends and 61 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: I are growing up and becoming adults, why are they 62 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: stopping talking about fun? But I still want to talk 63 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: about it. So I really had to go through this 64 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: season of like, what does it look like to continue 65 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: to talk about fund? Does that mean I'm not grown up? 66 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: Does that mean I'm Peter Pan? No. I have a 67 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: job and I do my responsibilities, and and then I 68 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: rise like maybe I'm just made this way. Maybe there's 69 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: something too. There needs to be a few of us 70 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: still on the planet that talked about the power of 71 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: fun and what it actually means and what it's actually for. 72 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: And so that's when the podcast came along, and then 73 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 1: five six years later is when the book came along. 74 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: All right, quick question here. Have you ever been asked 75 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: to leave a movie theater because you laugh too loud? No? 76 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: Have you more than once? At? Yeah? Really? Yep? Oh 77 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: my gosh, so you went on that one, doyla. Yeah. 78 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: I love to go to corny movies, really goofy, funny movies, 79 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: and my laugh can be heard like a mile away, 80 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: which the people sitting next to me don't usually appreciate. 81 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: I'm glad you were built this way. Did you ever 82 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: feel any like you were a square peg in a 83 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: round hole, like like you just didn't fit in because 84 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: you love to have fun? I think so, I mean, 85 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: I think all of us can look back to sixth 86 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: grade right and figure out, Man, I did not feel 87 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: like I fit in. I mean, I think all of 88 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: us have those stories from our childhood and from our 89 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: adult life where we think I just did not fit 90 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: in the way I wanted to, and I didn't fit 91 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: in as much as I thought I wanted to to 92 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: feel accepted and to feel loved and and so I 93 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: think that's true. But the older I've gotten and the 94 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 1: more I've gotten used to being in my body and 95 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 1: in my life, and it really come around appreciating that 96 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: we're each mate so uniquely. The more it doesn't matter 97 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 1: what side the whole is, I'm the right tag for it, right. 98 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: So that's kind of what I've got and what I 99 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: try to encourage people in the that sounds fun? The 100 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: book has been like, Man, what do you love and 101 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: and what matters to you? And what sounds fun to you? 102 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: Because there's so much power in appreciating the unique way 103 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: you were made a men sister, So, Annie, when it 104 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: comes too fun, are you the practical joker kind of 105 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: fun or are you just somebody who likes to experiment 106 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: trying new things? I'm probably not the practical joker I 107 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: probably way more lean on Let's get a group together 108 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: and go do something fun. Let's take the next thirty 109 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: minutes and do something fine. Let's take a break from 110 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: work and do something fun and so practical joking kind of, 111 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: I'm just maybe not smart enough to pull all those 112 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: together in time. But I really love doing fun things 113 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: that invite other people into it, that help people feel 114 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: connect did and help people feel like man, that was 115 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: a that was a better moment than I expected. Why 116 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: does fun matter to you? Like, you know, I wrote 117 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: a book about love because because that matters. Why does 118 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: this concept of of levity or laughter or fun matter 119 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: so much that you would write a book about it? Yeah? 120 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: I mean for me, I think fun really encompasses a 121 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: lot of things we're looking for, and there aren't a 122 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: lot of people talking about it. I like bringing up 123 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: conversations that people want to be having but may not 124 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: have the words for quite at the moment. Because when 125 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: I think about fun, I think about, man, who are 126 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: the people I want to be around, and who do 127 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: I love? And and how does that play into what 128 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: is fun for me? And and where are the places 129 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: that I want to learn something new? And what are 130 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: the hobbies I want to pick up. So to me, 131 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: the idea of fun is is really all encompassing in 132 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: our lives, and and so I wanted to write about 133 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: that because it matters so deeply to me. I feel 134 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: like it's really been an active part of shaping the 135 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: lights that I have and shaping some of the best 136 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: parts of my life. And and as I was having 137 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: conversations about fun on the podcast on that Sounds Fun 138 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: to Podcast, I realized, like, man, there is more to 139 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: this conversation that I'm able to have just with these guests. 140 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: I want to write about this and research this and 141 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: dig into this, and and so it just kind of 142 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: became the main thing I wanted to think about and 143 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: talk about and write about. And there is such a 144 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: huge void, it seems, especially especially this past year year 145 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: and a half, this huge void of levity. Everything is 146 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: so serious. Do you find that that people have been 147 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: watching the news or being in COVID shutdown of kind 148 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: of lost that fun bear. Yeah. For me, what I 149 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: saw over the last year was a lot of us 150 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: that we had these big dreams of fun that was 151 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 1: going to I hadn't on my calendar two trips overseas 152 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: or trips to Disney World or Disneyland, or or of 153 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: these big concerts or sporting events you wanted to go to. 154 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: And and when all of that gets canceled, we either 155 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: kind of had the choice to to not have fun 156 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: and to just kind of sit in the loss that 157 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: we experienced, or we could try to find some simpler 158 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: fund some easier, more local, more at home grown fun. Now, 159 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: I'm a big believer in feeling or feeling, so I'm 160 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: not saying that that we needed to not be disappointed 161 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: or sad. But at the same time, I mean, how 162 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 1: many people got back into puzzles and got into bread making, 163 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: and got into having conversations with friends over zoom people 164 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: you hadn't talked to in a long time. And So 165 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: what I saw over the last year and what I 166 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: was glad is I was finishing writing that sounds fun, 167 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: is when the pandemic began. So I got to kind 168 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: of lay the filter of a worldwide pandemic on top 169 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: of a book of fun and see if it all 170 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: stayed true. And what I ended up realizing is, man, 171 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: this is still a big meat in our lives and 172 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: in our hearts, and there is a way to do 173 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: that even when the world is not as you're used 174 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: to it being. I got a confession to make, Annie, 175 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: I'm ready. I had a hell of a lot of 176 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: fun during the COVID shutdown. What did you do? I 177 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: spent the entire year with my family. I didn't leave 178 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: the house for weeks. I have never lived with my 179 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: husband his career and my career since the day we met. 180 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: We've lived in different states. We got married, we still 181 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: live in different states, and we just you know, visit, 182 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: we travel back and forth. But during the COVID shutdown, 183 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: we lived together. Our whole family lived together on a 184 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: five acre cattle ranch, and I can tell you it 185 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: was one of the most fun experiences of my life 186 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,079 Speaker 1: to spend that kind of intimate time with my kids 187 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 1: and my husband doing amazing things, simple things, but amazing things. So, 188 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: what are some of the most silly or wonderfully spontaneous 189 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: things that you have ever done? Just like you said, 190 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: to pull people into the moment, to get them to 191 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: lighten up, what are some of the really amazing moments 192 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: that you have had that you would encourage other people 193 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: not to do the same thing, obviously, but to just 194 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: take a chance on fun. Well, you know what this 195 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: is a great part about talking about fun is a 196 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: lot of times the big and bold and wild fun 197 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: things are actually not attainable to everybody and aren't necessarily 198 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: what your fondest memories are. So what really comes to 199 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,839 Speaker 1: mind is like Friday at work. It got to me 200 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: about four o'clock and we were all still stay around 201 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: answering emails, and one of my co workers said, let's 202 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: order guacamoley, and so we are guacamole just randomly on 203 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: a Friday afternoon. That's not a big thing, but then 204 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: it was really fun just to take him in and 205 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: sit around and laugh and eat guacamole together. I also 206 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: think about during the pandemic, some other girlfriends and I, 207 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: you know, we we all live alone separately because we 208 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: aren't married yet, and so we all live alone across town, 209 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: and we decided to all watch the same movie at 210 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,599 Speaker 1: the same time over face time, and so it was 211 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: a real small moment, but it was really meaningful to me. 212 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think of what I mean. One time, 213 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: some friends and I, you can take a flight from 214 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 1: Nashville where I live, down to Panama City to that airport, 215 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: and we got on that morning flight on Southwest, and 216 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: all we packed, we had our slim suits on in 217 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: our clothes on top, and we just took our beach 218 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 1: bags down and we flew down for seventy nine dollars 219 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: and went and laid on the beach for the day 220 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: and flew back on the evening flight that night for 221 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: seventy nine dollars. So that was pretty fun. But man, 222 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: I'm all for doing fun that is manageable as far 223 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: as financially and time wise, so that instead of putting 224 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: tons of pressure on a vacation in one week in 225 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: the summer and said, you've been having fun all the 226 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: way along A men to that. My mom was the 227 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: queen of having fun on a shoestring budget. My dad 228 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 1: always always worked, had a good job. We weren't poor, 229 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: but we certainly weren't rich. You know, we lived very simply. 230 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,079 Speaker 1: They were very thrifty. But my mom could pull together 231 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: a party on like five bucks, I kid you not, 232 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: and on a whim. You know, on a Friday night, 233 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: she'd say, let's go crabbing, and she'd get on the 234 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: phone and call half the neighborhood and we'd all meet 235 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: down at the crab dock. And my dad would bring 236 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: his guitar and we would crab off the end of 237 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: the dock and catch crab and cook them on the 238 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: beach and have a party. Not a stupid, get drunk 239 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 1: kind of stupid party, but just with four or five 240 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: of the neighbors, ten of the neighbors, all the kids 241 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: playing in the sand. My dad played the guitar until 242 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: midnight or one or two o'clock in the morning. It 243 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: cost us nothing. Yeah, And that, to me, that was 244 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: a lot of what has gone sideways with fun is 245 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: people expect themselves to come up with really grandiose, expensive, big, 246 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: multi day fun. And I'm just such a fan of 247 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: the simplicity of making it part of your every week, 248 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: of your every day, of going back because when you 249 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: were nine years old, you didn't have to think about fun. 250 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: You just had it all the time. And now, of 251 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: course we have more responsibilities, more things we have to 252 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: worry about and think about, but we can still make 253 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: that a part of our lives. I think I do 254 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: that sometimes a little bit too much, so that my 255 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: kids expect that everything is going to be fun, you know. 256 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: I try to make games out of learning. I try 257 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: to make food fun and make you know, pancakes that 258 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: are the shape of butterflies, or I spell my kids 259 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: names out with pancakes. Well, it gets to the point where, Mom, 260 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: this this just a round pancake. What's up? You're not 261 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: fun today? That's exactly right. When normal life is surprising 262 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: to your family because they're used to you kind of 263 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: kicking it up and not that's a pretty good life, 264 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: It's true. And my my friends and family know that 265 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: if I'm there, I'm going to kick it. If I'm 266 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: not kicking it up a notch, if I'm not trying 267 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: to have fun, there's something drastically wrong with me. I'm 268 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: either in physical pain or emotional pain. No, just surely that. 269 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times we all, I mean, 270 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: we're all going to have off days, of course, and 271 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: there are some personalities that are less inclined to showing 272 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: up and being the party like you and I both are. 273 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: But the beautiful thing is is we we all gathered together. 274 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: Everybody wants to feel connected, everybody wants to laugh, Everybody 275 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: wants to have those kind of memories and those kind 276 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: of moments. Some of us it's a little bit easier 277 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: to think them up than others. But part of my 278 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: hope with the book is that we've set out some 279 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: ideas and some concepts for people that will help jump 280 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: start them into what they're thinking about. So, how can 281 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: we give me some baby steps to take? I think 282 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: we've become very cynical and very divided as a nation 283 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: as a society. Give us some annie, some baby steps. 284 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: Maybe you spell them out and that sounds fun, But 285 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: give us a starting point, a launching point for incorporating 286 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: this idea of playfulness or fun back into our day, 287 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: back into our routine. Yeah. I think it starts with 288 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: a really simple question that you ask yourself, and you 289 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: ask the people that you sit around and eat dinner with. 290 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: And the question is what sounds fun to you? I mean, 291 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: that's a really simple question. But what happens when you 292 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: sit down and kind of ask around the table tonight 293 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: at dinner. Okay, we're gonna answer everyone, want everybody answer 294 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: this question? What sounds fun to you? What happens is 295 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: it does get your brain spinning. I'm like, well, hey, 296 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: I don't know, I haven't thought about fun in a 297 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: really long time. Okay, well think about it now, start 298 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: thinking up. What does sound fun to you? Is it 299 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: a particular band you want to see live in concert 300 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: when we're able to do that again hopefully really soon. 301 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: Or or is it a game you want to play? 302 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: Is it an instrument you want to learn? Is it 303 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: a recipe you want to cook? Is it a sport 304 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: you want to try it for yourself? Like, there are 305 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: so many answers to what sounds funky? Maybe it's just resting. 306 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: Maybe what sounds fun for you is reading a book 307 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: quietly for an hour. That's a great answer, And so 308 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: I think asking yourself that question, it really is the 309 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: first step in listening to your friends and family. Who 310 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: you eat dinner with, or maybe you eat lunch with 311 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: after church on Sunday, or maybe you're in small group 312 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: with or you your co workers do you eat lunch 313 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: with every day? But when you ask that question, it 314 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: really stirs up something in you. It stirs up something 315 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: and the people that are eating with you. And in fact, 316 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 1: if you start, if you follow up that question with, 317 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: well tell me why, that is almost always Delilah, You'll 318 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 1: think this is so interesting. Almost always, as you get 319 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: down deeper into the why behind what sounds fun to people, 320 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 1: almost always points back to while when I was a 321 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: kid dot dot dot because there's a simplicity that we 322 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: miss and our adult lives and we want to taste 323 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: that again. And one of the ways we get to 324 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: have those moments is by finding fun in the life 325 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: we have. This podcast is brought to you by my 326 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: friends at the Home Depot. Listen up. If you are 327 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: a do it yourself for the Home Depot has given 328 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: you a not so super secret tool to taking on 329 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: your next project. It's the home Depot app and it's 330 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,479 Speaker 1: on your phone, downloaded for free, and then use it 331 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: when you're starting your next project. You can take a 332 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: picture of what you're working on and what you need 333 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 1: to replace or repair, and the home Depot's app technology 334 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: gives you all their options. Is it in the store 335 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: closest to you or would you prefer it shipped to 336 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: you the home Depot how doers get more done? So 337 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: it seems to me a lot of people are worried 338 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: about looking foolish. They don't want to be not good 339 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: at something. Like you said, when we were kids, I 340 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: didn't care if I was the best soccer player. Well 341 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: we didn't play soccer, but you know, the best volleyball player, 342 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: the best swimmer, I just wanted to go to the 343 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: pool and swim. I didn't care if I was wearing 344 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: the best hiking boots and could hike ten miles without stopping. 345 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: I just wanted to go climb on the hills behind 346 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: our house. But then something happens where we judge ourselves 347 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: or we have expectations of ourselves. How do you get 348 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: past that and just go have fun again? Yeah? I 349 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: mean part of that. In the book, the first section 350 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: is actually titled the Joys of being an Amateur and 351 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: how much it matters that we allow ourselves to begin 352 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: at new things, to start something we've never done before, 353 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: to give ourselves permission to be new at today where 354 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,239 Speaker 1: we are in our lives today. The only thing I 355 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: want to be a professional act is my job. Everything 356 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 1: else I want to stay an amateur I and being 357 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: an amateur kind of gets a bad rap, But the 358 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: reality is being an amateur just means you're trying something new, 359 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: and you're doing things that you're not trying to be 360 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: a professional act. Well, I'm never gonna be a professional athlete, 361 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: but I don't want to play sports, and I'm never 362 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: gonna be a professional like knitter, but I love cross fitting, 363 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 1: and so we've got to give ourselves this permission of like, 364 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: what if you are new at something, What if you 365 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: aren't professional at something, do you still want to try? 366 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: I'm never gonna be a professional chef, but I love cooking, 367 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: So how do we go back and give ourselves permission 368 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: to do that? It literally is just that Delilah of 369 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: literally saying to yourself, it is okay if I don't 370 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: know how to do everything and to be very good 371 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: at everything. There is a lot of fun that comes 372 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: from trying new things. But if you put the pressure 373 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: on yourself to be a professional all the time, you're 374 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 1: gonna miss out. How can people break out of their habits? 375 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: It seems like the older we get, the more set 376 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,719 Speaker 1: in our ways. Where we have a routine where you know, 377 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: this is my morning, this is my mid day, this 378 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 1: is my afternoon, this is what I do in evening. 379 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: That doesn't leave a whole lot of room for creativity 380 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,439 Speaker 1: and fun. How can we start to break out of 381 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: that routine and invite fun back into our hearts, into 382 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: our day, into our life. So to me, one of 383 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 1: the real way to break out of our routine is 384 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: actually not to ruin the routine you have. Just add 385 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: fun to your calendar. I mean I encourage people all 386 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: the time, Delilah, put thirty minutes of fun on your 387 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: calendar this Saturday, for your whole family, for you and 388 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: your partner, for you and your friends. Just say hey, 389 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: will you block off two to two thirty on Saturday 390 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: for us to have fun? Because everything you put on 391 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: your calendar is what really matters to you and what 392 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: you will prioritize and not just skip over. And so 393 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: if you'll put fun on your calendar, then what happens 394 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: is every day between now and Saturday, you're going, what 395 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: are we gonna do in that thirty minutes? What are 396 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: we gonna do that sounds fun? Well, what sounds fun 397 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: to them? What sounds fun to me? And then as 398 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: it gets closer, you've really done kind of a deep 399 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: dive in your own heart and in your own life 400 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: about what you want to do in that thirty minutes. 401 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: And then what happens. I love this is you do 402 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: your thirty minutes of fun. You're playing outside, you do 403 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: a puzzle together, you you do whatever the fun thing 404 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: is you and your friends decided to do together or 405 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: you do alone. And then you reflect on it, just 406 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: like we do with everything else. Well, that was really fun, 407 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,719 Speaker 1: but I wish the cookie recipe would have had more 408 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: chocolate chips in it. We'll do it different next time. 409 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: Or I wish we'd play soccer instead of tennis. Well 410 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: next week, let's play soccer. And suddenly, instead of having 411 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: to reshape your life because you're trying to add fun, 412 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: you just make space for it on your calendar like 413 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: you make space for everything else. You're also talk in 414 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: your book about having hobbies. I have way, way, way, 415 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: way too many hobbies. I am buried under stacks of 416 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 1: projects that are fun hobbies that I start. But a 417 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: lot of people I know don't have hobbies. Talk about 418 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: why you think it's important that folks pick up a hobby. 419 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: That's awesome. I like that you have a lot of hobbies. 420 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: I think that's really great. I think one of the 421 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: reasons we need those hobbies that you experienced this in 422 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: your life probably as much as anybody, Delila, is if 423 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: it really matters that we have some space away from 424 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: our phones, away from technology. Because I hate to break 425 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: it to all of our friends listening, but scrolling is 426 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: not a hobby. Scrolling on Instagram is not a hobby. 427 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: Hobbies are things where you create something, or you make something, 428 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 1: or you invest your time and your your energy into 429 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: something important like a cookie recipe or cross stitching or 430 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 1: learning a new instrument, and so a lot of times 431 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: the reason we need those is we need something that 432 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: helps us to rest our brains. And so if we 433 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 1: work with our brains all week, we need to rest 434 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: with our hands and make things, create things, It really 435 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: helps your brains to rest. So I think hobbies matter 436 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: for that reason that they help us to rest in 437 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: a really deep and I think profound way. So what 438 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: are some of your hobbies? What do I love to 439 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: do well? To me? Right now? I'm working my way 440 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: through one of Danielle Walker's cookbooks, So I'm cooking on 441 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: the weekends through in that cookbook and sharing the toils 442 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: of my labor with my friends and family, and so 443 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: that's one that I'm doing right now. I love playing 444 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,360 Speaker 1: outside and just being outside, So anything I can do 445 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: like that is a hobby for me, whether it's playing 446 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 1: frisbee or soccer whatever. And as I meant to a 447 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: couple of times, I'm kind of getting back into cross 448 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: fitting Dewila, like my grandmother taught me thirty years ago, 449 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 1: and I just hadn't picked it up in a really 450 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,360 Speaker 1: long time. And I realized a couple of months ago 451 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: that I was kind of tired of watching TV and 452 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 1: rolling on my phone. I feel like I was wasting 453 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: my life, and so I decided to start making something. 454 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: So I started making some new patterns, some crosstitch patterns, 455 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: and making gifts for my friends. And I absolutely am 456 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: having the best time. Do you know, Annie, the average 457 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: American spins between six and fourteen hours a day on screens. Yeah, 458 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: it's wild. It is absolutely wild and so one. I mean, 459 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 1: I think that's why it matters so much. I take on. 460 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 1: There's a day a week every week that I am not. 461 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: I am not on technology at all. I just needed 462 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: my brain to rest. I need to not take in 463 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: so much information. And so even this week on Saturday, 464 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,719 Speaker 1: I finished reading a book that I loved by Charles 465 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: Martin called The water Keeper, and I just sat on 466 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: my couch and had music playing through my speakers and 467 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: rent for a couple of hours. And and of course 468 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 1: the temptation was there to check my phone and check 469 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: Instagram and for all the science that they tell us 470 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: behind the dopamine rush that having that little red notification. 471 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: Give that. But I have learned that my my life 472 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: is healthier when I take some separations from screens. That 473 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: is hard. And as a parent with kids, it's really 474 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: hard to try to impress upon them to put put 475 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: it down, put it away, but the computer away, turn 476 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: it off, walk away, let's go have fun. You would 477 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: think that young people would be the one saying, mom, 478 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 1: let's go out fun. But it's it's sad how addicted 479 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: youth are today to that dopamine that you get on 480 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,959 Speaker 1: screen time. Yeah, that's exactly right. I mean it is, 481 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: it is for all of us. It's addicting. I think 482 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 1: I'm grateful that I did not have to be a 483 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,160 Speaker 1: teenager with social media. I think it is probably one 484 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: of the highest pressure times in the life of a 485 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: teenager is right now trying to maneuver, I mean, with 486 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 1: as much trouble is I have Delilah, not getting my 487 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: my identity and my joy out of social media. I 488 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: can't imagine trying to do this at fort in fifteen sixteen, 489 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 1: and so I really and as you as a parent, 490 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I just honor y'all who are parenting teenagers 491 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: and young adults through social media um and teaching them that, 492 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: you know, there are so much life outside of your phone, 493 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: and so much life outside of video games, and we 494 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:19,719 Speaker 1: need need to get out there and see it and 495 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: experience it. That is the biggest challenge I think I 496 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: face as a parent is keeping my kids engaged in 497 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: life instead of addicted to to a fake life. This 498 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: this alternative reality. M hmm, that's right, that's right. That's 499 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: reminding them that, you know, there's there is real bread 500 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: to be made in the kitchen, and they're real friends 501 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: to be made out in the world, and and there's 502 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: real relationships and real connection and and you know, real 503 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: beautiful things we can do. Even in a garden, there's 504 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: real things to grow. The video games where you're growing 505 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: things are fun, but man, let's get outside and actually 506 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: make errant, you know. And I think that that I 507 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: see a lot of my friends who are parenting really 508 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: working towards that and working on that and helping their 509 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,360 Speaker 1: children and even themselves see a life outside of their 510 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: phone that is really worth investing in. Well, Lucky for me, 511 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: I am very blessed with the land and the gardens 512 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 1: and the carrots um. But it is pulling teeth to 513 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: get my kids to put the damned devices down and 514 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: go outside and jump. They even want to take them 515 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: on the trampoline. I'm like, are you insane? I mean, 516 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: I don't feel the same pressure sometimes to myself where 517 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: I have to say to my I mean, I have 518 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: all these boundaries set on my phone, all these limits 519 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,719 Speaker 1: that so that I can parent myself and parent my 520 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: phone and how I want to interact with my phone, 521 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 1: so I don't en be any of y'all who are 522 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: raising other people. I'm working on raising myself using technology. 523 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: So you talk about that a little bit in your 524 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: book about raising yourself About difficulty is about about tough 525 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: times and vulnerable times in your life. Uh, which is 526 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: it would seem strange to have that in a book 527 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: called you know that sounds fun, but you're very honest 528 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: and very transparent. Yeah, it just really mattered to me 529 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: when I was writing this, and and this is how 530 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: I am with my book, says, it just matters that 531 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: the friends who are reading it on the other side 532 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: feel like I'm telling the truth. Now I don't have 533 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: to tell every single detail, and that's the beauty of 534 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: having editors and people on my team who helped read 535 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: manuscript before they become public, and they say to me like, hey, Annie, 536 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: this is probably too much detail or the They also 537 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: sometimes go, hey, you started this story, but I actually 538 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 1: know there's more here for you to tell. And they 539 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: pushed me and encouraged me to be more vulnerable. But 540 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: it mattered to me that in a book about fun people, 541 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: people don't feel like I'm Pollyanna, like I'm trying to 542 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: write this from a life that does not know pain 543 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: or loss or disappointment or heartbreak. Instead, like we learned 544 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: the movie inside Out, what's actually true is they go 545 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: better hand in hand, joy and suffering, joy and sadness. 546 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,880 Speaker 1: They're actually both brighter when they are both held together. 547 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,479 Speaker 1: And so I wanted to write a book that said, Hey, 548 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: I'm inviting you to fun, and I'm inviting you to 549 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: prioritize this, but I'm inviting you from a place of 550 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: a real life that knows real pain, not from you know, 551 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: not a Disney Channel princess kind of life. You also 552 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: mentioned in the book that sounds fun that living by 553 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 1: faith isn't always fun. M hm hm yeah. And I 554 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: think the problem is is whether it's your faith or 555 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: the career path you're on, or even though you know 556 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: what your favorite hobbies are, there's always a risk that 557 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: people are going to look at your life and for 558 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: whatever is going on inside their life, they're gonna determine 559 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: they need to judge your life so they feel better 560 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: about themselves. And that is just I mean, sadly, that's 561 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: the nature of being surrounded by humans, right, But that's 562 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:03,479 Speaker 1: I think that's why it matters so much that we 563 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 1: each really focus on and get a real handle on 564 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: that you're not an accident, that your uniqueness is really 565 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: important to our planet being as colorful and wonderful and 566 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: vibrant as it is. And so the things you love 567 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: and the faith you hold tight to, don't let it 568 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: go just because someone's judging you. Remember that you're bringing 569 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: a unique collection of personality traits to this planet and 570 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: we need that. I love the expression. I saw it 571 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 1: years ago. God looked around and realized the world needed you. 572 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah that's beautiful. I love that. And boy, that makes 573 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 1: you think differently about your neighbors and the person who 574 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: cuts you off in traffic, and you know, of was 575 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: going like, man, the world needed them. The world needed them. 576 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: And I think that's what makes falling in love so special, 577 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: and loving people, as you talk about so much like 578 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: loving people is so special because you go, man, I 579 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: I can't imagine lie without knowing you, Like God knew 580 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:04,959 Speaker 1: the world needed you and knew that I needed you. 581 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: And it's why lost is so profound and deep is 582 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: because love and lost goes so close hand in hand. 583 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 1: But I think that's a beautiful thought and reminds me 584 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 1: of so many people that I love. If we can 585 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: take that posture, how much more fun is life if 586 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,479 Speaker 1: we look around and go, man, what it gifts all 587 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: these people are and really living with them? And God, 588 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: that's that's a beautiful thought. It makes me more excited 589 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: than ever to think about the people that I love. Well, 590 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: you go love on the people that you love. Annie. 591 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: Tell my audience how they can find you, how they 592 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: can find your book, how they can find your podcast, 593 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 1: how they can find your infectious joy for living. You're 594 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: trying to live to thank you, Okay, so I'm embarrassingly 595 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 1: easy to find. It's Annie f Downs everywhere, just like Fun. 596 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 1: Annie f Downs on all the social media places that sounds. 597 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 1: Fun's podcast releases on Mondays and Thursdays, and you can 598 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: find that wherever you love to listen to podcasts. And 599 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: the book That Sounds Fun is available everywhere. It's been 600 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: out for about two months. It's been really fun to 601 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: see people embracing new hobbies telling me that they laughed 602 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: and cried when they read it. So you can grab 603 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: it from your local bookstore. They can order it for 604 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: you if they don't have it on the shelf, or 605 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: you can go online and get it where you love 606 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: to buy books. I'm gonna leave you with this one 607 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: thought that we started doing when COVID hit, and I'm 608 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: gonna give it this. This is my present to you. Okay, okay, 609 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 1: I'm ready. So you said that you live alone. You're 610 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: going to have to do this over skypeer zoom until 611 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: things open up. But every night at dinner since COVID hit, 612 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 1: we've been having family dinners just like we had grown up. 613 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: And every night at dinner we ask a question and 614 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: go around the table and everybody responds. So the questions 615 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: are as ridiculous as you can imagine, or as poignant 616 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: as you could imagine, and it has given me such 617 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: insights into the people that God has placed in my 618 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 1: life that it just boggles my mind. It blows my mind. 619 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 1: And it's to the point now that if we sit 620 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: down for dinner and I don't have a question or 621 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: Papa doesn't have a question, the kids are like, what, 622 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,760 Speaker 1: what's what's the question? Where's the question? We need the question? 623 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, you guys come up with the question, 624 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 1: and they've come up with some really good ones. Favorite one, well, uh, 625 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: if you could travel back in time and have a 626 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: conversation with yourself at twelve, what would you say? Or 627 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: if you could have one meal with anybody in history, 628 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: who would you choose to have a meal with? Great question, 629 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: I mean, amazing, talk about fun that those meals we'll 630 00:34:57,600 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 1: live in my heart forever because you know, as the 631 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: is open up and we get busy again, I know 632 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: we won't have those opportunities. But what a blessing mum. Huh. 633 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 1: So that's my gift to you, the meal question. I'm 634 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 1: going for that question tonight. If you get have dinner 635 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: with anybody in history, hug with I can't wait to 636 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,320 Speaker 1: ask my friends up my parting gift to you, And 637 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: you've been so generous with your time and with your 638 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:26,760 Speaker 1: love and with your fun. Whenever you're with family or friends, 639 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 1: come up with a really good question. What one of 640 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:34,960 Speaker 1: the questions was, if you could go to Mars, knowing 641 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: you would never get to return to Earth, would you go? 642 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 1: Oh wow? What was your answer? I don't know. Of 643 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: the people at my table, there were nine of us 644 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 1: said not just no, but hail no. Why would I 645 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: leave my family? Yeah? Wow? Yeah? Good? Thank you Piah, 646 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 1: you got you got my brain spinning. Now, all right, 647 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 1: Annie f Downs any Fun Downs. The book is called 648 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,399 Speaker 1: that Sounds Fun, the same name of the podcast. I 649 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 1: imagine if somebody wanted to look you up on Instagram 650 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:14,479 Speaker 1: or Facebook, they would look up Annie f Downs. Yes, ma'am, 651 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: that's it, all right, Thank you go have fun. Thanks, 652 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: thanks for having me. All right, bubbye, sweetheart. Right talking 653 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: to Annie f As in Fun Downs was indeed fun. 654 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: I can understand why she's considered an expert on the 655 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: topic of fun. Her voice bubbling over with enthusiasm, personality, 656 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:41,719 Speaker 1: and she had some very solid information to back up 657 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:46,440 Speaker 1: her assertion that we need we need fun in our lives. 658 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: Like Annie said, we need to make time for fun 659 00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: by actually putting it on our calendar. Prioritizing it just 660 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: as you would a business meeting, a dentist appointment, a 661 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 1: school conference. Another tip she shared that I appreciated, and 662 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: I know this to be true, is that hobbies making, 663 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,839 Speaker 1: doing things with your hands, creating helps to put our 664 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 1: over active mind at ease. Coloring those coloring books they 665 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:19,880 Speaker 1: make that have such beautiful pictures and are whimsical, those 666 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 1: put your mind at ease right away. And finally, my 667 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:28,240 Speaker 1: favorite takeaway from this whole conversation, give yourself necessary breaks 668 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: from the electronics, necessary breaks from texting, emailing, scrolling, going 669 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:40,720 Speaker 1: on social media. Resist the temptation. Instead, pick up a book, 670 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 1: take a walk, talk to a friend that remember what 671 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 1: it's like to be engaged with the real, the tangible, 672 00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:55,760 Speaker 1: the authentic world, and be yourself. These experiences, the things 673 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 1: you do with your hands, the things you make, the 674 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:02,399 Speaker 1: conversations you have with your kids so much better than 675 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:05,480 Speaker 1: anything you're going to find on Twitter. It truly is, 676 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,600 Speaker 1: and it gave us the information we need. You can 677 00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: find her podcast or her books by the same name. 678 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 1: That sounds fun. I encourage you to spend a little 679 00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:20,160 Speaker 1: time gathering ideas and inspiration. I also got to encourage 680 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,920 Speaker 1: you to join me every single night on the radio 681 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:28,640 Speaker 1: as I play your request and dedications and find all 682 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 1: of my podcast loves Someone, where I will continue my mission, 683 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:35,880 Speaker 1: my unending mission of shining a light in your direction 684 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,880 Speaker 1: to help dispel some of the darkness, and maybe, just 685 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:43,040 Speaker 1: maybe we'll have a whole lot of fun.