Thoughts On the Good Life

Can't resist sharing this thought-provoking message that was written for the April edition of the City's employee newsletter by Derric Reikert, Recreation and Fitness Center Director.

I recently attended the funeral of a friend and long-time patron of the American Fork Fitness Center. For 15 years, 5 days a week, Ferrin Olson attended the fitness center for 45 minutes of weight lifting and 30 minutes of swimming. Beginning in 1998 Ferrin began volunteering as a marshall at the fitness center and did so up until the time of his passing. Ferrin also spent many hours each day and week training horses and roping with friends and family members.

As I looked through the rows of people attending the funeral, many of those friends were there. Ferrin spent his life with family and friends, engaged in good works and enjoying life.

As we go through each day working, planning, shopping, and doing the many other things we do to fill up each day, are we spending time with friends and family, doing things we enjoy? We live and work in a wonderful area that is surrounded by many leisure opportunities. Below is a list of just a few of the many, many different activities you can do:

• Go the library and read a book
  
• Walk and ponder at the amphitheater
  
• Watch a baseball or basketball game
  
• Play in a game yourself
  
• Go horse riding
  
• Learn to knit or sew
  
• Fly a kite at the park
  
• Play disc golf at Art Dye
  
• Attend a play
  
• Cook your favorite meal or dessert
  
• Ride a bike
  
• Visit a friend
  
• Join a club
  
• Play a round of golf
  
• Go to a museum
  
• Take a drive up A.F. Canyon
  
• Go fishing
  
• Write a story or book
  
• Do Family History research
  
• Volunteer -- anywhere
  
• Paint a picture
  
• Go dancing
  
• Read to a child
  
• Learn a new language
  
• Do woodworking
  
• Plant a garden
  

"Throughout the whole life, from childhood to old age, there should be opportunities for the practice of those forms of recreation which renew life, and which make for the joy of living." --President Theodore Roosevelt

May we look at each day and make time to engage in activities that bring joy in life. When the day comes to reflect on each of our lives, it will be said that we spent our life with family and friends, engaged in good works and we enjoyed life.