- Is your social life limited to Netflix and chill - alone?
- Is your automatic response to social invitations "I'd love to! But I'm busy."
- Does your mind always feel restless yet unproductive?
- Are you a work hard, play (ahem, WORK) harder type?
I've been thinking about the concept of PLAY recently. Play, as in fun. Like recess. Like jungle gyms, jumprope and the land of make believe. Play, as in getting lost in something far less burdensome than our busy schedules, our worries, or our fears. Y'know that zany idea of kicking pragmatism to the curb and letting your soul dance in that sweet surrender of joy, laughter, creativity, and interconnection. That's the kinda good stuff we often relegate to childhood but, god forbid not adulthood, because we've got far more important things to prioritize. But playtime, I think, is where living begins. Because isn't life supposed to be fun?
I'll be the first to admit that I absolutely suck at carving out playtime for myself. I've always got an excuse to be diligently engaged in something that isolates me and keeps my mind in a hyper-analytic mode. And I've got a ready-made list of excuses memorized that'll make declining any and all invitations completely possible. The crazy thing is, historically speaking, I'm a people person that loves to socialize. But I've reached a point in life where, if I do acquiesce and decide to have fun, I want the party to come to me. Please? And can I wear leggings and Birkenstocks and throw my hair up in a top knot? I'm cringing even as I type this because, if I remember correctly, I used to know how to play. But clearly, certain life events have made me very, very serious. So much so that I've subconsciously drawn the conclusion that fun means I'm spiraling out of control. And I must always stay in control. Because if I let my guard down and actually have fun, then everything will fall apart. And I wouldn't have been prepared for life collapse because I was too busy being happy. It's happened before! And I hate getting sucker punched. Recovery is tedious, time consuming, and exhausting. So in a preemptive move, I've inadvertently chosen to live a pretty monotonous life. BO-RING!
Now as I contemplate this concept of PLAY, I've been thinking about what feels like fun - to me. Fun is: experiences that inspire my creativity, challenge me physically, stir my emotions, expand my mind, or deepen my connections with others. It relieves my overactive mind, pulls me out of isolation, and makes me feel like one with my tribe. Play inspires exploration, both internally and externally, while boosting my happy hormones and making my life feel a tad bit euphoric. For me, play is dreaming awake. It's movement, dance, laughter, and silliness. It's curious, daring, adventurous, and vulnerable.
Play is living in the land of make believe from time to time, letting your inner-child make the rules, and enjoying a recess from the rigors of adulting.
#WriteYourTruth
Describe your most recent adult recess where you got to live temporarily in the land of make believe; free of adult responsibilities. Who did you share that experience with? How did it make you feel and/or how did it make you grow? When is your next recess and how will you spend it?
