FUN - For your nourishment

Maybe FUN isn't exactly an acronym, but it's close enough me for me. For Your Nourishment -- or shortened to FUN.

We need to be make sure that the things we do are also FUN. After all, life's too short and it seems it's getting shorter. Whoops, there went a breath I won't be able to take again.

I have a good role model upon which I base this philosophy...my 88-year-old father. Last June or so he told us that he no longer would be going to church with us on Sundays. And, for the most part, he's proven himself correct. Whether it's "Sunday-itis" or some other ailment, he has managed to skip going to church most Sundays. He doesn't mind coming on Wednesday for dinner or Saturday to listen to the Four Gospels practice, but once that big Sunday paper is delivered to our breakfast table, he knows that there is some reason he won't be going to listen to the pastor preach and the choir sing.

I'm okay with that...if that's his decision. But like him, I've decided that there are a few things that I'm going to be doing -- or not doing -- as well, to make life a little more charming and a little less frustrating. For instance, I'm going to do things that I not only enjoy but are also good for me.

There's a two part "litmus" test now for things I do. So, I won't be jogging even though jogging might be good for me. Instead, I'll be doing the aerobics games on the Wii Fit. I enjoy them and they are good for me.

I'm also giving speeches in Toastmasters, but I'm giving them about things that I'm interested in...and I'm trying to give them without notes. So I have to practice a little longer but I'm also trying to stretch my brain cells a little bit more. Anyone can read a speech, but can you give a speech based on a three or five point outline. My kids will tell you that I've perfected the three points of a five point outline because it accurately corresponds with the number of fingers and thumb I have on one hand. So my intro is my thumb, which stands for something. In this case, my intro is my dad and his decision to quit going to church.

Then I have three points -- which correspond to my three fingers. And my pinkie finger is my conclusion. It's where I can either summarize my points or give my call to action.

So tomorrow in Toastmasters, I'm speaking on FUN - For Your Nourishment. My points are:

• Do something good for your heart, your head and your hands.
• For my heart, I joined the Four Gospels; For my head, I joined Toastmasters; and for my hands, I'm working out on the Wii Fitness instead of "not enjoying" my exercise bicycle and treadmill which are now pushed against the far basement wall.

My conclusion is "life's too short." We need to enjoy life and do things we like and are good for us.

So whether it's raising a garden in the sunshine, reading a good book on a snowy day or singing along to a repeat of the Lawrence Welk Show, whatever you find to do that is FUN is fine with me.

Let's have more FUN.