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Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I’ve always been considered an “outcast” because I’m an extroverted introvert. If you know, you know.

My extrovert will only come out if I know you, I’m comfortable with you, and if I trust you. Otherwise, I’m 100% an introvert and completely anti-social. I won’t make an effort to speak to you or ever make eye contact with you if I’m uncomfortable or if I feel it’s too awkward.

I had a very hard time in school because I didn’t “fit in” in any groups and felt like I wasn’t where I belonged. So, parties of any kind weren’t my idea of fun. There’s the odd time where I’d go to the movies or go shopping but I soon realized that those people weren’t true friends. There was always too much drama with the girls and they were all talking behind my back. I can’t really say I made friends back in the day, and even in high school or college, I found it rough.

My idea of fun was spending time with my brother and parents. Honestly and truly. We’d go to restaurants, the movies, farmers’ markets, go for countryside drives, festivals, pizza night at home, play games, etc . . . I miss those days and I’d do anything to experience that all over again. You know, we all grew up and things changed. So many things that impacted our traditions. My brother and I moved out years ago because we both had significant others (who we’re still with), my father passed away from cardiac arrest, my fiancé and I live in the same city as my mother but we’re also a couple hours away from my brother and his fiancée, etc . . . Between all of that and different work schedules, it’s difficult to get together and keep the traditions alive (or at least some of them). It isn’t the same without my father around but we make sure to still include him even if it’s in spirit.

I’ve learned over the years that change is okay as long as you don’t forget your roots and everything you’ve done in life to get where you are now. As soon as you rid yourself of those thoughts, life becomes blurry because those memories fade more and more as time passes. 

As adults, we have different responsibilities that can also impact our definition of fun or at least what we do for fun. What we consider as fun can be wildly different than what others think it can be. My brother and his fiancée, and myself and my fiancé don’t have kids but we have dogs and cats. That’s still quite the responsibility and they still drain your bank account. So maybe our definition of fun is taking our dogs out while others might take their children out for the day. Or maybe it’s fun to be able to do your own thing without children or pets interrupting you during your “me time.”

I’ve learned that the simple things in life are the most pleasurable. There’s no stress when what you’re doing requires little to no effort or if it’s free of charge. There’s no pressure in doing something that you cannot afford just to impress people, or doing things that don’t make you happy just because it’s what society tells you to do.

There are alternative ways. For example: using a YouTube tutorial for a DIY project instead of paying for an in-person or a virtual class with an instructor. YouTube has plenty of videos so since not everybody learns the same way, it’s great to be able to pick and choose different videos that offer a variety of teaching styles as well. It’s fun to create and it’s fun to discover!

I was lucky enough not to have many responsibilities/chores as a kid/teenager but I was brought up by two phenomenal parents so I immediately knew that sharing is caring and that helping is selfless. I’d always give a helping hand but did I typically consider that to be fun? Nope. But now? Those typical household chores are so much fun for me. I know . . . crazy, right? I LOVE doing laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning/reorganizing, etc . . .

I’m also a homebody so I find joy in cozying up with a cup of tea and a book in hand or hangin’ out with my pets and watching a TV show. I enjoy taking part in webinars, or volunteering remotely for organizations. I really love to create and innovate so crafting is fun for me. If I am going out somewhere, it’s to admire nature’s beauty or watch live theatre. Oh, also to discover a new restaurant because I’d rather try new foods instead of going to a bar or a party and getting blackout drunk. I’ll have ciders, rosé, champagne, or any “girly drink” once or twice a year and that’s it. There are so many other things that I find amusing but it truly is a very personal thing for everyone.

At the end of the day, only you know what’s the best form of entertainment to suit your wants and needs so do it for yourself and not for other people. Do it now while you still can because life is too short to grow up so quickly and just forget all about the good old days and fun times you had. 

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.