When I was a small child, I experienced every day as a new adventure. By the time I went to school, play and learning were ingrained habits. I remember catching butterflies, caterpillars, bees and other insects; I would put them in covered glass jars to learn more about life. I would plant seeds in the huge garden in our backyard and watch them grow into vegetables or flowers. I traveled in a pack of 6 to 10 cousins; we roamed the neighborhood and played from dawn to dark. We could match the adventures of Tom Sawyer or Peter Pan any day.
My past has prepared me to be curious and playful. I have made play and fun a way of life. This habit continues to keep me young and vital in my golden years. As a life coach, I understand the value of play and recreation in today’s stress-filled lifestyle. I have found that play:
- Improves your health and wellbeing. Physical exercise and/or positive emotions change your body’s chemistry. It enhances your body’s ability to stay healthy or heal itself.
- Brings you into the ease and power of the present moment. When you are having fun, you are usually giving the activity your full attention. When you are totally absorbed in the moment, you are in the free, empowering flow of life.
- Gives you a time out from coping with stressful situations. A vacation distracts you from the day to day activities that can be heavy with responsibilities and stress. Play is a respite from a negative situation; it lifts your mood and emotions.
- Keeps the eternal child within you alive. A playful attitude toward life keeps the fantasy and adventure of the inner child awake well into your 90’s. Think of the people who are fun to be around. They have a youthful, fun loving way about them.
Play can be expressed in so many ways: Playing sports and games, going to the movies, traveling, attending a carnival, getting together with friends, playing with small children and much more. You can turn any activity into fun if you use your creative imagination. You can even invite play into your work. And if you are fortunate, your work feels like play because you love what you do.
Just being around people who make you laugh improves your health, wellbeing and vitality. The main thing is to make having fun a priority. Develop a playful attitude as you live your life. Play and fun are a choice. Be aware of how often your choices reflect these values. Design a fun-filled summer. Share it with people who make you feel great!
Sandra Miniere, M.Ed., Personal Life Coach, inspires people to design lives that promote authenticity, excellence, and wellbeing.
She can be reached at Sandy@co-creativecoach.com or
813-994-2297. Her website is www.co-creativecoach.com.
