Prior to Covid, I used to run a lot of school assemblies. During our assemblies, we would always pose this question to the students and staff. What is the most fun thing you’ve ever done? We asked them to give us a wave or stand up if the most fun thing they ever did had something to do with physical activity. It was almost always unanimous. Just about every hand was waving or everyone in the room would be standing everywhere we went. It was a very powerful message about the importance of physical activity and the huge part it plays in our lives.

Recently I had the privilege of going to the SHAPE America National Convention in Seattle. As I mentioned in my last BLOG, one of the best quotes I heard while I was there was from my new friend Matt Bristol. Matt is the 2023 SHAPE America National Middle School PE teacher of the Year from Vermont. When talking about connection before content he said, “connection is the content!” Such a brilliant statement from such an awesome person!

It made me think back to this question and some of the most fun things that I have ever done in my life. I love to be alone at times. Being alone is definitely something that I need to be my best self. However, when I think of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life, they all have to do with physical activity but, all of them have been done with the people that I love most in the world. 

Here are some answers that I believe I will never get to that question. 

The other part of the reason that we asked this question is we know the answers that we will NEVER get (hopefully). This was the big point we were trying to make with the students about finding a balance in life. I could 99.9999% guarantee that I could come to your town right now, and ask this question to the first 100 people I meet: what’s the most fun they have ever had? Not one of these people is going to tell me about a movie that they watched, a video game that they played, or the time they sat on their couch and scrolled through their social media feed. They are going to tell me about times when they were moving and connecting with the people they care most about in this world. 

I believe this is all pretty ironic when you think about the way so many of us choose to spend our time these days.  

So what’s the most fun thing you’ve ever done and who was there to share it with you? I would love to hear about it. You can comment below or reach out to info@houselfitness.com

Make Today GREAT and KEEP MOVING!

Mark 

This microblog post (originally published here) was a featured post in #slowchathealth’s #microblogmonth event. You can search for all of the featured posts here. Please do follow each of the outstanding contributors on social media (including Mark Housel, the author of this post) and consider writing a microblog post of your own to be shared with the global audience of slowchathealth.com

Pair this post with the following:

Happiness Factories by Phil Mathe

The Power of Meaningful and Joyful Experiences by Leticia Cariño

How to Facilitate Deeper Connections to Physical Activity by Jordan Manley

Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?