on play...

(Original Post 8/22/14)
​You know, in this field, I feel begin to hear people differently. I don't mean clients (there is definitely an element of full body listening that you engross yourself in with a client), but the people you encounter in your daily life; friends, partners, family, colleagues, acquaintances... yourself.

When I think of periods in my life where I have had the hardest time, struggled the most, been the most uncomfortable, unsettled, and perhaps unhappy, I realize that something very basic is missing... something so simple, it almost seems elementary. In fact, often when we think of it, we so often relate it to children...

PLAY

How often, as adults, do we find that we take life a biiit too seriously...? I mean just because we are "big" doesn't mean we have to be boring... or grumpy... or sullen... or hold back... I mean, sure, we have been on the planet longer than the smaller versions of ourselves, but, I think we would all agree,... we don't necessarily have it all figured out. We all talk about how we wish we were still young... gosh/golly/God how it was just so much easier/carefree back then...

Sure. (Then I am reminded by my adolescent clients that, no... in fact it was NOT all that easy... it's just a matter of perspective.)

My point here is, honestly, what IS it that keeps us from going there... laughing more often. Feeling the thrill of being alive... I, myself, have been trying to explore this within myself recently, and I have to say, though at times my body may be paying for it, it has been one glorious ride. I would have to say it has, at the very least, been PLAYful... now did I go to a PLAYground... no... but the contextand intention of what I was doing would suggest that it would be and truly WAS fun!

Last month I...
-did yoga and got upside down a lot (handstand... I mean who can say that's not a LITTLE playful --- and terrifying)
-danced at a club for like, mmm, three hours
-went to a climbing gym
THEN
-climbed a mountainside (I used to love to climb trees)
-drove across country (BY. MY. SELF.)
-drive by sticker-ed a friends car (of course it was appropriate and the kind that can be pulled off without damage)
-drew a picture for a friend
-made a music mix
-wrestled with my labrador
-ran a relay with close friends that was 191 miles and took a total of 33 hours (serious)

Now.. does that mean I played with stuffed animals all the time or played pretend (although I cannot deny that I do)? No... and even if I did would it make me any less of a person (I mean honestly people). Play is truly subjective... what makes us tick is unique in all of us.

Play is something that stimulates us... on ALL levels... and truth be told, even kids are losing sight of it at times...

So tomorrow, make it your intention to do something for the sole purpose of HAVING FUN... trust me... the parts of you that still are young at heart will come alive, and that "old" you, well it might decide it's not TOO OLD yet.

Let's start a revolution...

#peopleforplay

Please see this link to connect to an relevant article from NPR.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/08/06/336360521/play-doesnt-end-with-childhood-why-adults-need-recess-too?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140806

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