seeking fun is overrated

​I was talking with my friend Greg yesterday about his first 50-mile race at the Georgia Jewel this weekend. He killed it - way to go man!! But in our conversation, we got to talking about running and its connection to fun. I told him, "I don't think I've ever said that was fun" after a run.

I'm sure it's true, because running has never been fun to me.

I went on to tell him that even though it's not fun, running IS fulfilling to me. And I told him further, I think sometimes we underappreciate the value of living a fulfilled life. We do that, I think, because we spend too much time chasing fun.

After our conversation, I looked up those two words.

Fun: enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure

Fulfilled: satisfied or happy because of fully developing one's abilities or character

I read those definitions and decided that fun happens when who we are experiences something enjoyable. Fullfillment comes when who we are becomes someone we enjoy being around more.

When I was on the Georgia Jewel course for ten hours Saturday, there were very few enjoyable moments. But on the flipside, at any given moment on that course, I would have told you I was feeling fulfilled.

When I go back to the Georgia Jewel, it will be because I crave fulfillment far more than I do fun.

I think it's possible to live an enjoyable life without ever feeling fulfilled. I think it's impossible to live a fulfilled life without enjoying it. I don't think it's an either or deal. But I do think it is important which we seek first and most.

If you believe like I do that life is all about the idea that we are all works in progress, and that we should always be working toward 'forward' progress, then you'll understand why I believe we should always start with seeking fulfillment.

Fulfillment IS enjoying forward progress.

I do believe seeking fun will always be a greater risk for derailing forward progress than seeking fulfillment is.

I hope we all have plenty of opportunities in life to say 'yes' when we're asked if we are having fun. But more than that, I hope we have many more opportunities to say 'yes' when we ask ourselves if this is making me a better person.

Enjoyment is often fleeting.

Becoming a better person is often forever. And really, there is something pretty fun sounding about that.