Think about it. You’re five years old. Your favorite place to go is the local playground at the elementary school that you’ll be attending next year. Where to? The swings, the slide, or the sandbox? There are no thoughts other than play. Little do you know, your life is going to take a turn. New opportunities will come up, but with that will come even more stress. There’s going to be homework, new extracurriculars, and figuring out what kind of career you want to pursue. You’re so excited to grow up, not knowing that one day you’ll hope you never did.

When we’re kids, all we want to do is play and spend time with our friends. You can be whoever you want, whenever you want. Everything about being a child just screams the word fun. There are so many endless opportunities that come with this lifestyle. Imagination shapes the world. A backyard can be a castle and a couch can become a fort. Each day is filled with fun and adventure. 

As we grow older and mature, life begins to take unexpected turns. School and work consume our lives and tear us apart. We begin to feel like there’s no tomorrow and all there is to do is work. We spend so much of our lives wrapped up in homework and other responsibilities that fun and play become the last resort of our lives. It would take so much to realize that play isn’t just for fun. It is essential to our happiness and well-being. 

It is so important to try to make time to express yourself and have fun. Whether it’s through sports, art, or any other extracurriculars, having fun in life can inevitably bring happiness to those with many stresses or work. When we get stressed out, it’s important to find other things to do to distract yourself from work. If we continue to live our lives without playing or having any fun, life becomes an endless cycle of repetition. 

As we grow up, play doesn’t have to just disappear. Prioritizing fun can bring more happiness in the long run, and it can help you avoid getting consumed by work. We can work to fit play into our lives and daily routines to continue bringing happiness and joy into our adult lives.