What's FUN got to do with it?!?

Alright, let's take a journey, shall we? We will keep it short and sweet as we take a joyride through the Garden State of mind, where Natalie Portman's spontaneous dance moves meet the wild rollercoaster of life!

I began writing this blog... about FUN - it's just as important as productivity. Especially in todays culture when we are prized for our hard work but go home miserable because we forgot how to do both. We forgot how to have admirable careers and also laugh and play at home! We bring the stress home because we forget that we are not machines. Anyway, as I was writing, this picture came to my mind so I had to share, this way you can see and feel it for yourself!

So, imagine this: you're lounging on your couch watching something you find interesting on TV, or answering to a very critical boss that seems to never appreciate you enough, or you are driving home from work and remembering that "shit, I need to go to the grocery store because I don't have x, y, z at home... and suddenly you remember that iconic scene where Natalie Portman breaks out into a funky dance in Garden State. Yeah, that one! It's like a burst of pure, unadulterated fun right in the middle of mundaneville. Like SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!

But hold up, rewind a sec. Why is it that we often forget to sprinkle a little fun into our lives? I mean, seriously, adulting can be such a buzzkill sometimes. But guess what? We're the captains of our own ships, the masters of our own destiny! We can choose to sail the seas of monotony, or we can shake things up and bust a move! The cool thing is that WE GET TO CHOOSE... WE GET TO DECIDE!

Sure, some people might raise an eyebrow or two at our out-of-the-box antics. But who cares? At the end of the day, it's all about answering to ourselves and our own happiness. So why not indulge in the things that make our hearts sing? HELLO!

I know, I know, time is always playing hide and seek with us, but check this out: if Natalie can squeeze in a few seconds of pure joy, then so can we! It's all about those little moments of unabashed authenticity, no stress, no pressure, just... being. IT. IS. THAT. SIMPLE. Periodtttttt.

And hey, I get it, it's easy to dismiss this as "it's just a movie," but truth be told, our lives are the ultimate blockbuster hits! We're the directors, producers, and stars of our own epic adventures. So why settle for anything less than a thrilling, action-packed ride?

Repeat after me: "if it ain't fun, it ain't worth it!" Seriously, ya'll, fun is the secret sauce that keeps the engine of life running smoothly. Without it, we're just cruising down Burnout Boulevard with a one-way ticket to Snoozeville. Ummmm, you satisfied with that? Didn't think so!

So, what's the recipe for spreading love like confetti? It's simple, really. Be bold, be daring, be weird, be... well, just be you! BE YOU!!!!!!! ALL OF YOU!!! And if anyone can't handle your quirky awesomeness, well, they're missing out on the party of a lifetime! Their loss, not yours! Your gain, one less person that isn't aligned with your soul that you get to say NEXT to!

And let's not forget, that life is one heck of a wild ride. So why not strap ourselves in, throw caution to the wind, and dive headfirst into the glorious chaos? Mistakes? Pfft, they're just detours on the road to greatness! We live and we learn! There are so many opportunities and so much beauty in the mess and mistakes we make. Oh... again, let me remind you... I hope you didn't already forget that we are HUMAN, so.... there will always be imperfections! AND THAT MY FRIENDS... that is where the good stuff is...

So today, let's crank up the volume, unleash our inner dance machines, and shout from the rooftops: "I am the master of my own fun-filled destiny!" What do you really have to lose other than other people thinking you might belong in a mental institution (that's a them problem, not a you problem by the way) Because when it comes down to it, we hold the power to rewrite our stories, one exhilarating chapter at a time. We get the chance to rewrite our narratives over and over and over again! Pretty sweet deal, right???

And hey, just in case I haven't hammered it home enough: fun is not just an option, it's a necessity! LIKE FOR REAL! We need that perfect balance between productivity and playfulness to keep our spirits soaring high.

So, here's to living life like a glorious, technicolor adventure! Let's chase those rainbows, embrace the weirdness, and sprinkle a little love and laughter wherever we go. Of course it isn't always rainbows and lollipops, but let's take full advantage of those rainbow and lollipop moments where and when we can... let's find them or at least pay attention to them as they present themselves, while we are so busy doing this or that! (They ARE there, here and everywhere!)

Because at the end of the day, the only thing better than watching Natalie bust a random original unique move is joining her on the dance floor of life as we all bust our asses and then...laugh at ourselves because it was just that fun to live a little! OR A LOT!

You with me? Let's boogie! 💃🕺

With SO MUCH Love,

Ashton