Fun Comes First

People always ask me how I “balance” everything—being a mom, having a social life, working, creating content, showing up in my community and the truth is: I DON’T! There is no balance. What I do have is a life that’s full. Full of work, full of love, and definitely full of fun. 

Here’s my secret: fun comes first. Not as a reward, not as a maybe as a must. 

And listen, I say that from a place of privilege. I have one child who’s at a good age, a solid village around me, and an income that lets me create space for joy. But here’s the question I want you to sit with: what’s keeping you from joy? 

We’ve been taught that fun only “counts” when it’s the kind you can post. Vacations, concerts, dinners with sparklers (and don’t get me wrong, I love all of that). But what about the quiet joys? Ignoring a phone call just to protect your peace. Window shopping with no intention of buying anything. Taking a random PTO day to binge Netflix and not feel bad about it. Is that not joy too? 

I always keep little things in my back pocket to look forward to cooking something new for dinner, watching a fresh episode drop on Apple TV, hearing my daughter’s voice when I get home from work. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps me grounded when the world feels like it’s spinning off its axis. 

Fall, to me, is the perfect reset. It’s the season to cozy up, fall back into routine, and make your space feel good again. Plan things to look forward to big or small. Maybe it’s a girls’ night out, or maybe it’s just a crockpot meal and your favorite blanket. Joy doesn’t have to be rare; sometimes it’s just waiting for you to notice it. 

So, what’s bringing you joy this fall? When you find it, share it with me. I want to hear it. @ask.jenn