Just For Fun

My daughter is dyeing her hair pink today.
Specifically, coral pink — a warm, glowing shade that takes me back to days in Florida. Everything there seemed to be coral pink: the buildings, the sunsets, even the cocktail umbrellas. That color feels like sunshine and freedom, like something done just because it’s beautiful.

When I asked ChatGPT why teens dye their hair, it gave me a thoughtful answer — something about self-expression, fierce independence, and confidence. All true, I suppose. But when I asked my daughter why she was doing it, she shrugged and said, “Because it’s fun.”

Just fun.

Her answer stopped me. It made me think: how often do we do something just for fun? Not because it’s efficient, or practical, or because we’re supposed to. Just for the joy of it?

We tend to walk the same paths every day because they’re safe. We eat the same foods because they’re easy. We cling to routines and reliable things because they give us structure — and yes, there’s comfort in that. I understand that some parts of life require security, predictability. A certain groundedness.

But can’t there also be a little room for the fun ?

Can’t there be a compromise between the steady, no-nonsense of routine and the carefree, top-down adventure of just for fun? Between responsibility and whimsy?

Maybe dyeing your hair coral pink isn’t just about fun. Maybe it’s a tiny act of rebellion against the mundane. A reminder that joy doesn’t always have to be earned — sometimes, it can just be chosen.

And maybe, every now and then, we could all use a little more pink in our lives.