Is It More Important to Win or Have Fun? You Can Change the “Rules”

When you were little, do you remember how important it was to win whatever game you were playing with family or friends? I remember games like Go Fish, Clue, Scrabble, and Monopoly. As I got older (in my 20s and 30s), winning became less important, but it was still the reason for playing. After my daughter started getting old enough to play, I wanted her to win.

Then one day I had an epiphany. My daughter was probably six or seven years old. She was getting frustrated with the way the game was going. As I watched her emotions build, I thought, “What’s the purpose of playing this game?” It hit me. This was supposed to be fun!! If we weren’t having fun, could we just stop playing and do something else? Was it legal to just quit a game before somebody won? I decided to give it a try. The result? My daughter and I were both happier!

Later, I had another epiphany. Could these same ideas be applied to life in general?? What if life is not about “winning” but instead is about having fun? And we can stop or change those parts that aren’t fun? What if we could shape the “rules of success” to our own needs?

I’ve heard from and read about people who’ve rediscovered their values and priorities during the pandemic. Some have changed jobs or even careers. Some have decided to pursue their passion by starting a new business. Some have commented on how they want to find a way to spend more time with family or find more balance. For many of us, this has been a time of reinvention. Why not reinvent a life that we like even better? Why not change the rules?

A question came to me as I was reflecting after watching the documentary, Grief Walker. “What part of living will I miss the most when I’m gone?” It may sound silly, but it helped me reframe my priorities. I want to spend more time focused on things I care about, that I’m passionate about.

What things could you stop or change to make your life more fun and enjoyable?