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Participate meaningfully in your life, have rewarding relationships, do work that is fruitful and satisfying, develop engaging pastimes and hobbies, be generous and do for others, have a sense of humor, live a healthy balanced lifestyle and it is unlikely you will have much time to worry about the so called “meaning of life.”
On the other hand, if you are not doing these things and you were to suddenly discover the Meaning of life (with a capital “M”), what good would that do you?
From A Guide to Personal Happiness
by Dr. Albert Ellis (1982), p. 176-179
Suggestions for Enjoyable Pursuits
Aesthetic Appreciation
Attending ballets, art galleries, concerts, mime performances, museums, plays, serious motion pictures, etc.
Clothing Activities
Designing, Dressing, Making clothes, Photographing, Researching, Shopping, etc.
Child Care
Babysitting, Bathing, Big Brother and Big Sister activities, Dressing,
Nursing, Playing with children, Teaching, etc.
Collecting
Books, Bottles, Cans, Coins, Comics, Match covers, Metals, Stamps,
etc.
Exercising
Calisthenics, Cross bars, Gym horses, Jogging, Punching bag, Running, Shadow boxing, Skipping rope, Weight lifting, Yoga, etc.
Fantasizing
Daydreaming, Dreaming, Imagining, Planning, Plotting, Scheming,
etc.
Financial Activities
Balancing checkbooks, Bill paying, Bookkeeping, Budgeting, Playing the stock market, Taking financial courses, etc.
Food Activities
Baking, Barbecuing, Collecting recipes, Cooking, Eating out, Preparing gourmet meals, Reading cookbooks, etc.
Games
Anagrams, Bridge, Cards, Checkers, Chess, Crossword puzzles, Go, Jigsaw puzzles, Love and sex games, Monopoly, Scrabble, Word games, etc.
Garden Activities
Flower arranging, Gardening, Landscaping, Mowing the lawn, Plant ing, Raising plants at home, Visiting the botanical gardens, etc.
Graphic Arts
Cartooning, Collages, Drawing, Finger painting, Lettering, Lithography, Painting, Photography, Water coloring, etc.
Handicraft Activities
Basket making, Bookbinding, Crocheting, Embroidering, Jewelry
making, Knitting, Leather making, Lace making, Metal work, Model making, Refurbishing furniture, Stained glass making, etc.
Helping People
Advising, Counseling, Comforting, Cheering, Companioning, Hospital and institutional activities, Psychotherapy, Group therapy, etc.
Humorous Activities
Cartooning, Collecting jokes, Fun-making, Jesting, Joke-making,
Joke-telling, Playing practical jokes and pranks, Punning, Writing humorous songs and stories, etc.
Martial Arts
Aikido, Guns, Fencing, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Wrestling, War games,
etc.
Mechanical Activities
Carpentry, Fixing appliances, Fixing apartments and houses, Wood working, Working on cars and boats, etc.
Outdoor Activities
Backpacking, Bicycling, Bird watching, Climbing, Butterfly catching, Canoeing, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback riding, Hunting, Ice skating, Kite-flying, Motoring, Picnicking, Racing cars, Skating, Skiing, Sleigh riding, Sunbathing, etc.
Performing Arts
Acting, Ballet, Dancing, Debating, Mime, Modern dance, Singing, etc.
Pets
Breeding, Caring for pets, Showing animals, Training animals, Assisting in an animal hospital, etc.
Political and Economic Activities
Campaigning, Discussing, Ecological causes, Consumer groups, Political groups, Proselytizing, Political writing, etc.
Reading
Browsing, Reading fiction, nonfiction, plays, poems, Reading aloud,
Play readings, Poetry readings, etc.
Relaxing Activities
Bathing, Chanting, Massage, Meditating, Muscle relaxation, Smok ing, Soaking, etc.
Religious and Mystical Activities
Chanting, Church going, Meditating, Praying, Reading, Preaching,
Studying religion, Teaching Sunday School, etc.
Scientific Activities
Anatomy, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Herpetology, Astronomy,
Medicine, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Zoology, etc.
Sex and Love Activities
Anal sex, Caring, Caressing, Heterosexual activities, Homosexual
activities, Helping, Kissing, Loving, Making sacrifices, Oral sex, Petting, Pornography, Sexual intercourse, Saying kind and loving things, etc.
Socializing
Bar hopping, Clubs, Dinner for two, Dinner parties, Conversation,
Fraternal organizations, Giving parties, Group activities, Partying, Rap
sessions, Social functions, Visiting friends, etc.
Spectatoring
Concert going, Listening to music, radio, etc., Watching circuses,
movies, pageants, parades, plays, sports, TV, etc.
Sports
Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Dancing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Pingpong, Pool, Running, Skating, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Water
sports, etc.
Studying
Art, Language, History, Math, Music, Science, Social science, etc.
Therapy Activities
Group therapy, Individual therapy, Self-help groups, Therapizing
Dthers, Therapy workshops, etc.
Traveling
Foreign travel, Local trips, Reading and observing travel books and
films, Sightseeing, etc.
Useful Activities and Chores
Cleaning, Cooking, Dishwashing, Home improvements, Ironing,
Mowing the lawn, Shopping, Washing the car, etc.
Venting Feelings
Hitting, Picketing, Punching pillows, Protesting, Screaming, Talking, Writing, etc.
Volunteer Activities
Volunteering for charitable groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups,
child care groups, camps, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, political
groups, etc.
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