Friday Fun on Purpose: Reconnect with What Used to Be Fun

When life feels heavy, it can be easy to lose touch with the activities that once sparked joy. Sometimes, what used to feel effortless now feels far away — and that’s okay. Today, we invite you to gently reconnect with a piece of that former fun, without pressure or expectations. It’s not about recapturing the past perfectly — it’s about giving yourself permission to experience a moment of play, however small. Remember: It’s not about doing it “right” or “perfectly.” It’s about inviting a little playfulness back into your day — even just for a few minutes. If the idea of play feels far away, you’re not alone. Sometimes mental health struggles take the color out of life. It’s okay to ask for help. Playfulness doesn’t erase our struggles — but even a small spark of it can help light the way forward.

Ideas to explore:

• Color with crayons, markers, or sidewalk chalk.

• Build a pillow or blanket fort — and sit inside with a book, a snack, or simply your own breath.

• Blow bubbles.

• Skip stones across a pond or throw pebbles into a river just to watch the ripples.

• Play a simple childhood game — hopscotch, hide and seek, catch.

• Play a video game you loved as a child.

• Make paper airplanes and see how far they fly.

• Swing on a swing set and feel the air move around you.

• Watch a favorite cartoon from your childhood.

• Finger paint — no “good” or “bad,” just color and motion.

• Press flowers between the pages of an old book.

• Try “cloud spotting” and find shapes and stories in the sky.

• Play with modeling clay, Play-Doh, or kinetic sand — let your hands lead, not your mind.

• Make friendship bracelets or a simple craft with beads or string.

• Put on music you loved as a teenager and let yourself sing along (off-key is welcome).

• Try jumping rope — even if you laugh and miss every third jump.

• Plant a seed in a small pot and watch it grow day by day.

• Build a tiny “fairy house” out of natural materials like sticks, moss, and stones.

• Relearn a childhood magic trick, joke, or riddle — and share it with someone.

• Have an old-fashioned “picnic” indoors with a blanket and your favorite snack foods.

• Play with water — fill a bowl and float small objects, splash your hands, feel the coolness.

• Blow up a balloon and see how long you can keep it in the air.

• Do cartwheels, somersaults, or spin in a circle — only if your body feels good doing it!

• Create a mini scavenger hunt for yourself or someone you love — even with tiny, silly clues.

• Make up a secret handshake — even if it’s just with yourself.

• Fold origami animals or simple shapes.

• Try making “nature art” with found items like leaves, twigs, or petals.

• Draw a treasure map for an imaginary adventure.

• Pretend you’re a “tourist” in your own town — what small things would you notice with fresh eyes?

• Watch fireflies or listen for frogs at dusk if you can access an outdoor space.

• Wear something that feels playful — bright socks, silly earrings, a favorite old T-shirt.

Please make a donation to the Hope and Healing Fund at Online Donation Form – MAPS!