The Role of Fun and Joy: It's Good Medicine

@bpb What a wonderful topic to bring up! First, congratulations to you for opening your mind to receive fun and joy while facing such challenges. Second, recognizing the benefits for yourself and wanting to encourage others is commendable.
Good for you!

I generally hang out in the Chronic Pain support groups, but your title caught my eye and proves how a positive mindset, mindfulness and distraction are some of our most helpful and beneficial medicines.

Wishing you well on your journey. May you continue to find fun and joy!! Thank you for the inspiration today.

Thank you for posting that --so glad that others are also trying to distract themselves from their health.
Was feeling a bit silly avoiding media news but ive now made a point of watching comedy & playing the "happy music" of the past on my cd's over the last few weeks and ive found that helps a lot as i cannot sing and worry about health at same time !!
More power to all & being positive

@shezza51, @bpa
Amen to that!

I encourage all who read this discussion to share their fun and joy as inspiration to themselves and other members who are reading.

Amen- couldn’t have said that better!! Thank you for the reminder! irene5

I needed to read this today! Thank you for sharing it!

The title of these comments certainly caught my eye. Just in the last week I decided I needed to add more fun, joy into my life..,,whatever that may be. Friends, funny movies or shows, grandchildren, a sunny walk in the park, wine tasting.
Thank you for the reminder!

It seems like a little of this in moderation can go a long way in showing that life is still going on. It made me feel positive. Thanks for the reminder!

I'm fortunate that I've always been an upbeat person. Personally, I attribute it to the 40+ years of traditional Zen meditation I practice. I've had formal training in a Zen Center. The whole time I was there, I never met a depressed monk!

At the moment, my wife is going through her own medical issues. She worries a lot. I pointed out that over 90% of what she worries about never happens! She thinks I'm right and has become much more positive. Her pain is reduced and she's sleeping better!

I agree completely that maintaining a positive attitude is good for the body as well as the spirit.

I love that you shared what has worked for you. Thank you! It's great that your wife has become more positive and notices better sleep hygiene and reduced pain.

I'm guilty of being a worrier. Until I went to the Mayo Pain Rehab Center to learn chronic pain management and received cognitive behavioral therapy, I caused myself excess grief and wasted energy. These tools took the place of many medications, thankfully.

Formal training in a Zen center must have been an incredible experience. Good for you! Do you mediate daily?

Fun & Joy rock! I don't think of it as medicine, as I doubt it will extend my expiration date, but actually I think of it as much more important...the essence of life. I think enjoyment and appreciation are spiritual--and also nice to be around. Mostly free, too! Today I bought some neon candy-colored T-shirts and went to a memorial gallery show--6 ceramicists who died recently. Because of covid, most of them did not have memorials. Now the show is their memorial--with a little altar for each artist. It was incredibly moving. These two experiences were very difference--one silly, one serious--but wow, what a great day. I also ran into a friend who hadn't seen me since I got a scary diagnosis months ago who burst into happy tears and exclaimed: I love you. And the day isn't over...I'll count this thread of comments to be a great add-on too.