Fun Time Adds Zest to Life
By John Aberle | Recreation
John & Dorothy Aberle, February 21, 2009, Rainforest Cafe
We had a blast! We visited the Boudin Bakery and ate some Original San Francisco Sourdough French Bread, watched the Pixar Play Parade, walked the boardwalk at Paradise Pier, then flew over California in the Soarin over California ride – it’s our favorite ride in that park. What incredible views: flying over snow covered mountains just above the skiers, zipping over the waves with surfers almost touching our feet, shooting over San Francisco and Los Angeles, gliding over the rocky shore near Monterey, and ending at the Disney Theme Parks in Anaheim. From there we went to Disneyland to shop, helped Buzz Lightyear fight the evil Zorg – twice, and took the Monorail completely around its route and returned to Downtown Disney for dinner.
Most of all, it was an opportunity for me to pull away from work to just enjoy time with my wife. Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt describe this in their wonderful book, The Power of Focus. In “The Achievers Focusing System,” they include “Fun Time!” as one of the seven areas of our lives that we need to plan for. It recharges us. Living a balanced life includes allotting time for recreation (that’s when we re-create ourselves).
While Disneyland may not be your birthday treat, get away from everything work related for a day or two or three. Dorothy and I plan a fun outing every two to three months for just the two of us, even if it’s just to go sightseeing. These mini-vacations give zest to our lives.
By now you may suspect that where I go, my camera goes. And so do at least two books. What’s your favorite way to unwind? And do you do it with someone or go by yourself to enjoy the solitude?