How did you play as a child? How do you play as an adult? Those were the questions posed to me earlier today in my spiritual study group. We are studying a book called, A Hidden Wholeness, The Journey Toward and Undivided Life” by Parker Palmer. We are into the third chapter, and so far, I’m really enjoying the book.
These questions got me thinking about fun and play and what role they had in my life when I was a child, as well as what role they have in my life as an adult. My childhood was full of fun and play. I always lived in a neighborhood that was teeming with other kids. Some of my memories include playing jacks with my next door neighbor, Vicky, getting a group together to play kick the can, jumping rope to singsong tunes, or just laying in the grass and playing the cloud game where we would find animal shapes among the clouds.
As an adult, I continue to make a point of bringing fun and play into my life. I’ve found a really fun gym where I work out regularly with a bunch of playful women and a few men, I take time to have creative fun with scrapbooking, at least once a quarter my daughter and I host a game night with family friends (right now our favorite game is Telestrations), twice a year I take a weekend away with my close friends, and I lead as well as participate in workshops that inspire and uplift me. All of these things constitute fun and play for me.
Fun and play are important because they are part of living a well rounded life. There is more and more research coming out about the benefits of play, which include, but aren’t limited to stress reduction, increased problem solving abilities, increased longevity, connection to others, and increased energy. With benefits like these I’m sure you are probably asking yourself why you aren’t playing more in your life.
How do you have fun and play?
If you are looking for something fun to do next Friday evening, consider joining me and some of your other Wholistic Woman friends at Frederick’s International Women’s Day Celebration. Details can be found at https://wholisticwomenliving.com/ai1ec_event/international-womens-day/?instance_id=230
Today’s author: Laura Hall is an iPEC certified life coach who believes every woman deserves a coach. She offers both one on one as well as group coaching services. She can be reached at [email protected] or check out her website at www.hallcoaching.com