As I’ve mentioned before, my Dad has taken on a lot of hobbies since the age of 50.  (Baking being the most awesome.)

He’s only just purchased a pair of His & Hers crossbows.  The Hers would be for this woman, my mother, shown holding a baby to demonstrate her fearless and brutish nature.  Clearly. (Image: Jonathan Canlas.)

Yes, Dad is expecting my arthritic and loving teddy bear of a Mom to start firing crossbows on the weekends.  If she’s not into the whole crossbow thing, he has generously offered to take her to the shooting range with his new pistol.  Or to give her a ride on his new motorcycle.

Everyone I discuss these changes with has mentioned something along the lines of a mid-life crisis.  Clearly, Dad’s in crisis.

Unless he’s not.

What if…

What if my usually-silent father is giving voice to the things that give him pleasure?

What if he’s finally found the courage to say, “I have always loved crossbows and pistols and motorcycles, and I felt like buying all three?”

I gotta tell you, the look that comes across his face when he talks about his new toys is nothing short of inspiring.  And when I mentioned staying at my parents’ house for Motocrossbow Weekend?  The smile I heard in his voice was precious.  (We will be doing motocross and shooting crossbows.  My husband will not let me combine the two, no matter how much I beg, and even though it’s so much fun to say “Motocrossbow.”)

Inspired by Randy’s example, I’ve started holding a morning dance party.
I’ve asked friends to take trapeze and improv classes with me.
And I’m volunteering with the Pegasus Riding Academy to build more time with kids and animals into my life.

This is not to say, “Yay me!” — though I’m excited about these activities.  It’s to say, “Yay, pleasure!”

What one thing can you do in your daily life to bring more pleasure to your existence?

Doesn’t have to be a major thing — 10 minutes of morning dancing isn’t major, nor is researching a class you’d like to take.  Playing outside for 5 minutes more each day or declaring 10:00 a.m. book-reading time — not major.

As business owners, we get so caught up in happiness being a studio, a new piece of gear, an effective marketing campaign, or a bursting client list — all future pleasures — that we give the shaft to pleasure in this moment.  Here.  Now.

I dare you to build a single pleasurable activity into your life for the next three days.  (If not for me, for Randy.  I’ll tell him you’ve been extra awesome when he gets back from the shooting range.)

Share your pleasurable brainstorm in the comments, if you wish, or just…you know…make motocrossbow jokes.  As always — if you like what you’ve read, share it on the Facebooks, pretty please!