As a therapist, one of the first questions that I ask when I meet someone to get to know them better is “What do you do for enjoyment?” I believe that it is a great question for 2 reasons: First, being curious about what they identify with and get excited about is common ground for relating to each other. Second, it helps me know how many resources this person has available to them to pick them up when they are feeling down.

I have found all too often that so many people can identify several things that they do for fun, but that the last time they made time for them was a very long time ago. Pressures of life seem to so easily get in the way of doing the things that make us feel happy and alive. This is not to say we should bail on our responsibilities or anything that is externally motivated, but I believe that if we do make time for enjoyment and internally motivated activities that it will give us added strength and energy to do the necessary but hard to do’s.

“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.”  -Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Now, go do something awesome.