I love work. I have an incredible job. I’m very comfortable digging in and pressing toward our company goals. This weekend I did something that’s a lot less comfortable for me, taking a trip “just for fun”. I took my 10-year-old son on a father/son trip to Legoland Florida.

Don’t get me wrong, the warm weather felt great and it was awesome to be with my son for so many hours in a row. I can even rationalize that the trip was great for generating new creative ideas for work (which it was) or it was about building a relationship (which it was), but I still find myself looking over my shoulder expecting to have to justify to someone why this trip was worthwhile.

A mentor of mine once said “You know, you are really serious, I want you to have a fun side in your life.” I asked “What are the benefits of having a fun side?” He listed some benefits and also said “it’s kind of a problem if you’re asking that question.” I guess I don’t have much practice spending real time and money on things that can’t be explained in “productive” terms.

I have no advice on this subject (clearly I am not qualified!) but I share this in case some of you can relate. I want to choose what I do and where I go based on my values, and on who and what is important to me, not based on what someone else might think. I want to live purposefully, not fearfully. I’m working on it.