Finding Joy In Your Life


Are you in need of some joy in your life? Has this covid crisis and this time of separation left you isolated and feeling very alone? So many of us are experiencing this. We are just beginning to attempt life outside of "lockdown" and other life hardships... I'm not sure we remember how. 


My sweet friend Diane who is known for her unique ways of reaching out to people, used to host these fun Game Nights for recreation, food and always loads of fun. So many friends have been missing these hosted activities and pressing for a commitment to the calendar.

I love investigating and ruminating on words.I wondered what does recreation fully imply... h-mmm.


A person involved in recreation is "re-creating" themselves. The whole point of recreation, as the original Latin word recreare implies, is to refresh and renew.

Types of Recreation

  • Physical activities (sports, games, fitness, etc.)
  • Social activities (parties, banquets, picnics, etc.)
  • Camping and outdoor activities (day camps, resident camps, backpacking, float trips, etc.)
  • Arts and crafts activities (painting, scrapbooking, ceramics, woodworking, etc.) 
When attending my sweet friend's game nights in the past, we would often play interactive and board games, enjoy an amazing array of personalities and foods while trying desperately to win while hearing the latest news from our friends. 

Finally the calendar had a date and in anticipation of the date I heard that this Game Night included my friend Diane's famous Zuppa and Garlic Bread! M-mmm, I was in!  

We were delighted to see so many friends- along with lots of other classics... crackers and cheeses, fruit plates, veggie platters, and a few sweeties! 

We started the games with Left, Center, Right and a similar one Left Center Right Wild. Just when you think you are out of the game you find yourself back in again. The next game, Spoons brought back some funny memories! My sisters thought it was so much fun to conspire while we played to ensure I lost. Haha! I also remembered another time playing and wondering if my new dining table was going to be history...this game so-ooo brings out the desire to win. This time it was a hurt shoulder, a broken spoon and smacked hands...all in all,not too serious a risk threat (unless someone failed to report other injuries. ;) 
Mad Gab we teamed up. Hilarious!  It is always a fun and interesting time. 
I had to take a minute to see what others like to play in social settings and another momentary rabbit trail ensued... so I discovered you can make your own game or search for a game like Mad Gab (which are actually flashcards) at this site

Pssst! You can even play online if nobody showed up for your game night!

So dear friend Diane, how successful was this night? Hats off to you dear friend! 
So in Mad Gab spirit I leave you this: 
Abe Less Sing... 
and for those who didn't figure out this Mad Gab...