Throughout my life, I have been honored to be part of many “families.” While I have an amazing family that I was born into, I also have an awesome family with my wife and kids. Over the years, many people who were previously strangers have become like family to me. I’ve been treated like family by many great people. Some of my greatest memories come from time spent having fun with those of my “Honorary Family.”
While working at ANASAZI, a wilderness treatment center, the members of my band were my family. We lived, ate, slept and survived as a group. More importantly, we shared our thoughts, feelings, jokes, stories, recipes, troubles and fears. We shared our love. While we never had a house, where we roamed was home.
I was enlightened to a greater understanding and appreciation of family in one of my first “Fire Circles.” A Fire Circle is an adaptation of Native American practices in which all participating members are given the opportunity to speak about a topic or question without interruption.
This particular Fire Circle question was, “What is your happiest memory?” This engaging and profound question was posed to a group of at-risk young women aged 13-15. I expected the question to fall on deaf ears, or worse, hear stories of damaging behavior and tales of unwise decisions. I could not have been more wrong.
Everyone of the young women responded to the question thoughtfully, sincerely and with conviction. The tone of each answer was very sure. This was not the first time they had thought about it. The answers given by all had two things in common: Family & Fun. Or more specifically “wholesome recreation shared with those we love.”
A Family that Plays Together…
Much research has been done concerning recreation. Consistently, recreation has been found to be beneficial for family groups. These findings particularly indicate that when husbands and wives engage in recreation together, they are significantly more satisfied with their marriages. The key is being engaged in a mutually enjoyable activity together. The scientific benefits range from healthier bodies to more open communication. In short, quality fun is good for the mind and body.
To me, the science is pretty simple. I take two things that I love (fun and family), combine them, and I end up with a perfect combination. It’s like combing peanut butter and jelly, brownies and ice cream, or in my case, bacon and chocolate (try it, trust me). Everybody has activities that they love to do and people they love to be around. By finding things that are mutually enjoyable with those closest to us, we can share what we love with who we love. That’s a whole lotta love! This is why fun family activities can have so much impact and be so memorable.
Take the time to think about your happiest memories. What were you doing, who were you with? I would love to read some of your favorite family memories below. Feel free to comment and share your good times.