The theory of Funn-Schwing is idiosyncratic in many ways, meaning it is in the eye of the beholder. Since talking about the theory of “Funn” is just not fun at all, suffice to say that Funn (Functional Understanding Not Necessary) is an acronym that Karl Rohnke came up with, and it refers to events or activities that are fun simply for the sake of having fun. “Schwing” is my word that best describes the feeling I have deep down when I am getting the most out of each moment of each day. Everyone has fun in different ways. What I’m attempting to do by sharing my theory of Funn-Schwing is to help people rediscover that fun life.
Simply talking about Funn can feel like bungee jumping naked over a pool of piranhas – really engaging at the beginning with a rush in the middle and just painful by the end. So I’m not going to beat the concept of Funn much more than to say it is in the doing, and there are endless opportunities for Funn in life. The more Funn you have, the more Schwing you will feel. Those who are winning in life are those who are having the most Funn. They are Livin’ Life Large – getting the most out of every single moment of every single day. That’s Funn-Schwing. So let’s do some Funn and feel the Schwing deep down because everyone is entitled to Livin’ Life Large – it’s just a matter of believing that it is your right.
Funn-Schwing’s Three Good Spots to Start
As I have said, I truly believe that the people who are having the most fun in life are winning. I would count myself in that growing niche of the world’s population. Enjoying life through Funn is a very new concept in terms of the human condition because for many decades working to survive was all that mattered and playing took a back seat. That austere work ethic seemed to carry forward even as we became more “civilized.”
https://youandiaccessories.com/
The Calvinists, for example, believed pleasure in this life was overindulgent and wrong. They felt that pleasure seeking was unduly extravagant because it was wasteful to spend their hard-earned profits from industry on this type of lifestyle. Instead, everything should be reinvested into church, family, state, and work. I read that they went so far as to wear vests that pricked their skin as a constant reminder to sacrifice pleasure in this life for the sake of a better afterlife.
Well, I’m not into that kind of extreme denial. It’s important to give back to your church, family, country, and work, but there has to be room for us to get pleasure out of life without feeling guilty. I’m not afraid to say that I enjoy my life. I enjoy what I do for a living. I even enjoy hanging with my mother-in-law. Why? As the adage says, “Life is for the living,” and I choose to be among the living. I grew up with some pretty serious weight on my shoulders for a kid. I learned after much reflection that I was taking things far too seriously.
That’s when I realized that life could be simple. The baggage I was lugging around was a burden, when there were lots of cool things to find pleasure in. I decided I wouldn’t wait for retirement to “enjoy” life. I retired out of university and committed to playing, having fun, and enjoying the simple things. In fact, when I was in Switzerland I bought my retirement watch – might as well enjoy it now! Who knows, when I’m 65 maybe I’ll get a “real” job, when I’ll need to tell time.
The following are Funn-Schwing’s 3 good spots to start, which are essentially “standard operating procedures” for a person who is Livin’ Life Large. These are not steadfast rules; rather they are for you to interpret what works for you, what makes your Funn so that you can feel the Schwing deep down.
1. Fun Is Fun Is Fun
The first starting place has to be that Funn is the name of the game. If you don’t have that clear and simple direction, you are liable to fall back into the “other life” that you are trying to leave behind. You see, life is full of fun, but you sometimes have to go out and make it for yourself.
My mom used to kick us kids out of the house to play every day when she got home from work. Do you remember that happening to you, too? What did we do? We climbed trees, skipped rocks, played house, traded cards, and played with our dinky cars. We were always able to have fun. We would come home with wicked grass stains, cuts and bruises, a story to tell, and that sense of Schwing. We were happy. When we “grow up” we seem to crawl down the evolutionary ladder and focus only on hunting and gathering, not laughing and joking. We lose sight of the fact that laughing and joking are what make hunting and gathering worthwhile.
For example, one day my roommate in university, Gus, and I were sitting around our residence feeling bored (and there were no moms to push us outside to play). I asked Gus if he was hungry. He responded with a degree of enthusiasm and we quickly settled on pizza. When I phoned in our order, the most monotone, unexcited, and unenthused person I have ever spoken with answered. Right then I made it my mission to attempt to get her excited, to break out of her apparent mold. No dice. She just took my order, told me it would arrive in 30 minutes, and hung up. I saw the moment as an opportunity for serious Schwing.