Live What You Know

My reading last week inspired many thoughts of play. In Martha Beck’s Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, she shared a beautiful story of how she envisioned her infinity loop symbol of a wayfinder’s life as a “never-ending, self-sustaining loop of rest and play.” It was lovely. Thoughts about her story mixed with those of past teachings on the unfamiliar and creativity and more by other favorites led me to wish the blessing below for everyone today. May this blessing carry us through the entire workweek ahead and beyond by embracing it one moment at a time:

May we all approach whatever it is we are doing today with the spirit of play. May we bring the excited feelings of exploration, discovery and delight to whatever lay before us. May we have fresh eyes and playful hearts that allow us to enjoy our work and let it take shape as something new for us no matter how many times we may think we have done it before. May we always experience each moment as fresh, new and alive with playful opportunities. May we dwell in playtime until it’s time to rest and prepare to play some more.

I’ve had visions throughout recent days of how I used to play teacher and mommy as a child. I can smile and embrace those two things playfully each day. Playtime is always there waiting for me. I created this life through my playtime as a child and now I can live it. I used to play all kinds of office games a lot too. Been there, did that as well. It was fun sometimes. I truly have created a life that is a lot like the one I used to create in my playtime as a young girl. I even banged away at my typewriter back then embracing my love of words as I wrote all kinds of stories and various ramblings. It’s funny how all aspects of my favorite childhood games are realities in my life today. I used to play roller-skate instructor to imaginary kids a lot though, that I have not done in years. Ha! What fun to remember!

Reading some of the great lessons on finding what we’re meant to do in the life often hint at or say outright that we should do what brings us the very most joy. Martha Beck asserts that we should only do what brings us joy. The thing is, we don’t have to feel burdened to change our careers, make sweeping life changes or even alter one thing, to immediately and with great success, shift our approach towards whatever we are doing today as if it is our playtime. Just about anything can be a game and bring joy. Maybe I’ll play cooking show while making dinner tonight like I used to making my lunch every morning before school as kid…that was fun. We decide how it feels to do what we do each day. We can make it fun. Life can be filled with Playtime!

As I write this I can hear the kids pretending all kinds of cool stuff in their rooms. It warms my heart to have those sounds as my background chatter. Whenever we run errands or go to various appointments, or even if people come to service something at the house, the kids are playing close attention at all times. Then soon enough you can hear them playing those things out in their rooms. Current favorites include airport, pharmacy, dog-trainer, tennis instructor, chef, cooking competitions with their stuffed animals, school, tennis tournament with their stuffed animals and more. Wouldn’t it be lovely if the adults actually performing those jobs and/or tasks could feel the joyful delight found in child’s play as they flow through their days each day. Sometimes you do run into those people and it feels good. I wish that we all may encourage, notice, share, spread and delight in joyfulness today and always. I pray to remember all this myself as I flow through my so-called duties throughout the days. I can feel how it felt to play and enjoy these things as a kid…even driving in my pretend car and running to the pretend bank felt fun…I only hope to remember it and truly Live it in the moment that it comes each day. If I forget, I can always notice it and jump into playfulness in the next moment, right?! 🙂

Wishing you one playful moment after another, leading to a life of playtime! Sending joy and love!