Millie's friend, Gordon the grasshopper is a fun-loving friend. He loves to jump and fly and run. Do you have a friend like Gordon? Or maybe you can relate to Gordon's love of having fun. Did you know that having fun has many benefits for your health and personal growth?
HAVING FUN IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Yes, that's right, having fun is GOOD for you! Scientists have discovered that having fun reduces stress, which has amazing health benefits. Many of the top diseases--cancer, heart problems, diabetes, and a weakened immune system--are either caused by or aggravated by stress. So finding ways to have fun and cultivating joy can actually improve your health!
Long ago, somewhere between 1,000 and 200 B.C. , the Book of Proverbs stated this truth that science is now finally catching up to. Proverbs 17:22 says: "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." I really like The Passion Translation version of this verse: "A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression." How true.
HAVING FUN MAKES YOU SMARTER
Guess what else? Having fun actually increases your capacity for learning! Yep, that's right, having fun can actually make you smarter. Part of this has to do with the fact that fun lowers your stress levels. Studies have also shown that having fun improves memory and encourages more self-directed learning.
There's a strange mindset that having fun can be frivolous and wasteful, and that it's better and more virtuous to be constantly working hard with little time for fun or leisure. But what many wise people have discovered is that it's best to have a balance between work and fun, and even try to integrate more fun into your work!
WAYS TO ADD MORE FUN INTO YOUR WORK
Do you want to try to have more fun at work? Here's an article with some great ideas:
WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN HAVE FUN LEARNING
Are you looking for ways to help your children have more fun learning? Check out this article for some creative and fun ideas to engage your little ones in math, art and reading:
And on a local level, join me for a reading of Millie the Monarch at ETB Music and Fine Arts Center! I will be reading Millie and also doing an art activity that will be fun for both children and adults! Click the image below to register or contact etbmusic@gmail.com. I hope to see you there!
And finally, if you'd like to know more science about the kind of grasshopper Gordon is, check out this website that describes the Carolina Grasshoppper.