Sandy Griffin is a motivational speaker, life coach, author and advocate for the homeless
working with people from all walks of life to discover how to live in their purpose, while loving themselves and others around them and keeping the fun and ‘life’ in their lives. SandyGriffin.com

The economy is frightening, food prices are escalating, wages are frozen, jobs are scarce–laughter is free, but there is not too much to laugh about these days.

I work with clients to discover ways to bring the fun back into their lives. It’s something that comes easily to me, having grown up in a poor family of twelve kids.

One morning, Mary Ann walked in the door of my office. She plunked down on the hard chair. The pain and lack of zest in her life was evident on her sullen face.

Mary Ann began her story; a story very much like yours and mine: starting her career, moving up the ladder, society maven, got married, had kids, being a mover and shaker at work, but still feeling that ‘something’ is missing in life . . . something like the fun. Mary Ann tried everything she knew to bring laughter back to herself and her family.

Years ago I babysat in my home and started to celebrate crazy days, like National Pig Day on March 1, National Licorice Day, Talk Like a Pirate Day. Well, you get the picture. You get the ‘fun’ picture.

All of a sudden life became fun because of these small changes. I chose to look at the fun days that no one expected to celebrate and I chose to have fun. Then I decided to teach this to my clients. That small decision makes all of the difference in the world. That choice made life come alive to people like Mary Ann.

Mary Ann, like so many other women, is let down by birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day. And let’s face it: Valentine’s Day puts every woman into PMS, whether it is her time for it or not. It is our expectations that disappoint us and leave us feeling empty.

Recently I answered my phone early in the morning. It was my oldest daughter calling form across the country wishing me a happy Buzzard Day. The rest of my day could not help but be filled with joy as I carried that message in my hearty the rest of the day.

When Mary Ann left my office that first day she was clutching my book, Free to Celebrate, in her hands. I watched as she opened the book and peeked in to see that it was National Hot Dog Day, No Homework Day, I am in Control Day, Take a Walk in the Park Day, Pencil Day and Frozen Food Day. I could almost see her mind turning, wondering, “How should I have fun with this day, and with who?”

Years ago I started to have fun with the various days to celebrate and I soon found that I was looking for other ways to break up the monotony of the days. I did not let any fun opportunities get past me. One day I walked into a grocery store and noticed that the card section was being closed down. The sign screamed out to me ‘GREETING CARDS 90% Off!’.

Being a woman who cannot pass up a good deal I sauntered; No, I sprinted to the shelves with picked-over cards hanging on for dear life from the shelves. I grabbed some cards only to notice that they were all in Spanish. All of them. BUT they were 90% off; a deal too good to pass up. My mind started thinking and pretty soon I had an arm full of Spanish greeting cards. What made this funnier yet is that I only know one expression in Spanish and that is Te quiero mucho – I love you very much! So I had not a clue as to what the sentiments on the card were.

I immediately sent a card to each of my daughters in college, signing it with the only Spanish words I know: Te quiero mucho!

When they got the cards they called me and quizzically asked me what the cards said. I informed them that I had no idea but that the cards were such a good deal that I could not pass them up. We have laughed at this for years. Not only that, at times when friends were going through tough times I would purchase a gift card from a local Mexican restaurant and put it in any random Spanish card I have and write, you guessed it, Te quiero mucho!

Two weeks after I worked with Mary Ann, she walked back through the doors of my office. Or rather, should I say that she danced though the doors? She was filled with life and so excited to share with me the BIG changes that had taken place because of the little changes she made in her life. She giggled as she relayed the stories of what she did for Oscar Meyer’s Birthday; Middle Child Day and Teddy Bear’s Picnic Day. She went on to tell how her family thought she was crazy at first, but soon got on the band wagon and joined in finding ways to make others happy by celebrating ordinary days and making them ‘extra’-ordinary.

One small change. One huge life shift. It makes all of the difference in the world. Try it. And move out of the way as the fun returns to your life and the laughter starts. Enjoy every single moment and share your joy.

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