What Is Fun?

Strong families make time to have fun, and strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations. I had two experiences this week when the topic of fun was discussed, so I decided to learn the meaning of the word fun. I found several definitions in Meriam-Webster online dictionary, along with the fact that fun can be a noun, adjective, or verb.

·         Noun:

1) what provides amusement or enjoyment, specifically: playful often boisterous action or speech (full of fun).

2) a mood for finding or making amusement (all in fun).

3) amusement or enjoyment (sickness takes all the fun out of life; play games for fun).

4) derisive jest: sport, ridicule (a figure of fun; They made fun of the way he talked.).

5) violent or excited activity or argument (Insults were exchanged and then the fun began.)

Synonyms of fun as a noun: delight, distraction, diversion, divertissement, entertainment, pleasure, recreation.

·         Verb:

Funned; funning (to indulge in banter or play; joke).

Synonyms of fun as a verb: banter, chaff, fool, gag, jape, jest, jive, joke, jolly, josh, kid, quip, wisecrack, yuk [slang], yuck.

·         Adjective:

1) Sometimes funner; sometimes funnest.

2) Providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment (a fun party; a fun person to be with).

3) Full of fun: pleasant (have a fun time).

Synonyms of fun as an adjective: amusing, delightful, diverting, enjoyable, entertaining, pleasurable.

I mentioned that I had two experiences that included the word fun, and they took place at two of the seven medical appointments that my husband and/or I had this week. My husband had back surgery last October and was still experiencing some pain in his lower back. His surgeon suggested that he receive an injection on either side of his lower back and sent us back to the referring orthopedist. The orthopedist indicated that he could give the injections but would have to give them on two separate days due to Medicare rules. So, we went to see him yesterday for the first injection.

The orthopedist greeted us with a statement similar to this one: “What have you done for fun since I last saw you?” I replied, “We have not had any fun for a long time.” This led to a discussion about the importance of fun that continued at our appointment with him today.

We discussed what fun meant to him (late 30s or early 40s) and what it means to us (late 70s). Racing down a snowy mountain on skis can be considered fun for younger people, but it might be an accident in the waiting for someone our age. Hiking up a mountain by oneself could be considered enjoyable, but it could be considered as a fun activity when doing so with a companion or a group.

At the end of the appointment, he prescribed finding something fun to do. So, I have been thinking about having fun today. When I was a child growing up on a farm with my eleven siblings, we made our own fun. Once we completed the chores and were free in the evenings, we would play various sporting-type games with a softball or a basketball. In the winter, we would go skating in our free time or play a card or board game together.

In my created family, my children would devise all kinds of activities or games to play when stuck at home, such as putting on plays or ganging up together to tease Mom. During warm summer days, we made a practice of visiting parks several times each week or simply walking over to the school to play on the playground equipment.

In my children’s families, I have noticed that they make much more time for fun and games. In the winter, there is a lot of time spent on the ski slopes. In the warmer months, they spend time hiking, boating, and other fun activities. Oftentimes, several families get together for fun.

Since doing fun activities can strengthen family ties, the important thing about having fun is doing it together as a family. This can help to build wonderful memories as well as strengthen family ties. We can make our families stronger by playing together, and then we can strengthen our communities, states, and nations because we are strong together.