Reminder: Take time to play

Spring is here in Central Texas! The bluebonnets are out🪻and the birds are back to their morning soundtracks. There is a sweet, undeniable freshness in the air as the world wakes up, stretches, and trades the winter gray for a much brighter shade of green.

But if we’re being honest, while the scenery is light, life is feeling heavy for many.

And with the end-of-school right around the corner for parents, sometimes these Spring months feel like there are endless checklists, to-do items, and events to attend. 

It can feel like just.too.much.

Did you know that one of the most effective ways to recharge, build resilience and cultivate creativity is…to PLAY?!

Brené  Brown’s book The Gifts Of Imperfection has an entire chapter on how to cultivate play and rest – and how it is part of living what she calls a Wholehearted Life.

She quotes Dr. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist, clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for Play:

The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression. Respecting our biologically programmed need for play can transform work. It can bring back excitement and newness to our job. Play helps us deal with difficulties, provides a sense of expansiveness, promotes mastery of our craft, and is an essential part of the creative process. Most importantly, true play that comes from our own inner needs and desires is the only path to finding lasting joy and satisfaction in our work. In the long run, work does not work without play.

Let that sink in: “Work does not work without play.”

At the time when I first encountered Brené and her work, I was the mom of two toddlers and regularly set up watercolors or playdough for them to play with.

I’d watch.
I’d encourage.
I’d tidy up.
But I wouldn’t play.

It actually didn’t occur to me to play, even though they had asked me. For some reason, I resisted.

For many of us, play ended when we became adults. We stopped playing games, creating art, writing, or even doing things just for pleasure.

When I read that play is one of the pathways to living a wholehearted life, I decided that I would try to engage, rather than watch.

The shift had begun:  I started looking for ways to be okay with playing. I’ll be honest: it didn’t come naturally, but it was fun all the same.  

After time, I can see that I’m more playful now. I’m more willing to jump into a scene and enjoy it, rather than be content as a bystander. (Even if those toddlers grew into “please don’t embarrass me” teens.)

Here are some ways I play today:  

• I’m teaching myself to knit, and make up silly phrases to keep track of my stitches. 
• We keep a deck of cards on the kitchen table and regularly end our meals with a game.
• We have a couple hammocks and swings that bring whimsy into what would otherwise be “sitting around.”
• Jumping into the lake or pool is often a “make me laugh” endeavor, or a contest.
• And, we just got home from our annual family ski trip where chasing each other down the mountain is equal parts fun & play and terrifying. 

I am here to tell you that you can play as an adult. 

In fact – your soul NEEDS play! Here are just a few ideas:

🏓  Organize a game night with your friends.
🖌️  Get creative with coloring, painting, cooking or some other “get messy” project.
🎶  Put on some great music and have a dance party with yourself.
☕  Take yourself on a coffee date to a new shop you’ve been wanting to try.

 🎤 Try out an open mic night or karaoke and give yourself a chance to be seen

🧺  Make a picnic and sit in your backyard or in the park.

When life is too much, I encourage you to build in some time for you to enjoy yourself, be creative and let loose.

What could play look like for you? Find some play in your day TODAY. And hit reply to let me know what it is!

Xo,
Jenny