It's Playtime!

It’s Playtime!

Yay! It’s time to take a mid-winter break. By now, you should have all of the Christmas decorations down, sorted, packed and stored. You have cleaned and organized the spaces that you came across. Now what? Spring where I live is still actively months away. Before you get cabin fever and decide to go to the mall again or to take on a huge household makeover project – take a break! It’s time to play; outside/inside – alone/together – home/away…no rules. It’s time to create space for a variety of accessible activities, not just a one-time fun fling!

One of the best ways to decide what to do is to ask your inner child. You know, the little child inside you that wants to play or just be. Of course, like most adults, we tell it, “Oh, not now!” But your inner child just knows fun!

I was always at work early and often found myself in the long, empty hallways of the school building. After a 25 minute commute, and an upbeat playlist, I always had a song in my head. That would often trigger the inner child in me to just whirl or twirl in the hallway. No crazy moves like people do today – the little girl in me just loves to twirl! Not sure if I ever got caught on those mornings, but it wouldn’t have bothered me...basically, an elementary school building was a blank canvas for my inner child! I know I was caught many times busting out in songs off key in those early mornings in my classroom!

What is your inner child waiting to do? What is he or she waiting to experience? Take some time off to play, to experience…no need for a trip to Disney here (unless your inner child has prompted you to save for that) – just time to play!

Depending upon the era you grew up in, your inner child may not be ‘tech-savvy!’ My inner child had games without electricity, motors, batteries, or internet connections! My inner child made Barbie clothes out of tissues and scrap yarn. My inner child somehow survived without Pinterest and multiple trips to a craft store!!!

Now that you are ‘grown-up,’ go explore at the science museum, the botanical gardens, take a painting class, get a child’s coloring book and crayons, get the playing cards out and Go Fish! Get a joke book and laugh, a songbook and sing. Learn a new dance step, dare to dream without, ‘if only’s.’

Your inner child knows that you take that break before you need one – before you are stressed. If you find yourself thinking of something fun, create space to have that fun. If you are a little bit more inhibited, go out to your car on a work break and sing your favorite song, out-loud and happy!

Just try something, anything that you used to love, or never got to do, it’s not too late. You may be able to color better than you remember, but know that getting up from making that snow angel may prove to be a little more challenging than you remember!!!

….oh, and remember how much fun it was to play with a friend???

So, to quote Mark Twain –

“Dance like nobody’s watching, love like you’ve never been hurt, sing like nobody’s listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.”