Episode 139: Rediscovering What's Fun For You

In this week’s episode of To Help You Heal, we continue our series on fun by moving beyond the question of why fun faded and into something more personal: What actually feels fun to you now?   Because here’s the truth—fun can’t be forced.   We can schedule time on the calendar. We can tell ourselves we’re going to “have fun.” But we can’t pressure ourselves into joy. And sometimes, before we can add fun back into our lives, we have to rediscover what it even looks like in this season.   What was fun at 16 or 22 or even five years ago, might not feel the same anymore. Identity shifts. Seasons change. Responsibilities evolve. And so does fun.   This episode explores:   Why trying to “go back” to old versions of fun can create frustration How identity shifts (motherhood, marriage, career, loss, trauma) reshape what feels enjoyable Why curiosity—not pressure—is the starting point How fun begins with noticing, not performing The difference between scheduling joy and forcing it     Instead of asking, What should I do for fun? This episode invites you to ask: What am I curious about?   Marie shares practical ways to rediscover fun through three simple categories:   1. Quiet Fun Reading, walking without headphones, rearranging a room, baking just because you feel like it.   2. Expressive Fun Painting, writing, dancing in your kitchen, trying a new recipe, creating something without an outcome attached.   3. Relational Fun Coffee with a friend, a game night, sending a voice memo, playing pickleball with your kids—laughing without keeping score.   If fun feels awkward right now, that’s okay. It’s not immaturity. It’s relearning. You’re rebuilding a muscle.     ✨ The 20-Minute Experiment This week’s invitation is simple: Choose one thing you’re curious about. Do it for 20 minutes. No productivity. No posting. No outcome required. Afterward, ask yourself: Did I feel lighter? Did time move differently? Would I do that again? If yes—add it to your fun list. If not—try something else.   This isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering there’s already fun inside of you—beneath the responsibilities. Next week, we’ll wrap up this series by exploring how fun actually changes your brain, builds resilience, and becomes sustainable—not seasonal.   Thanks for spending these 10 minutes here. Come back next Tuesday for another episode of To Help You Heal.