Last night I downloaded Kama J Frankling’s e-book, Play Curiosity and Confidence. I haven’t had time to read every word but I scrolled right through it straight away. Kama gives 65 suggestions for ways we can become more playful, take life and ourselves slightly less seriously, and increase our confidence as a result. To download a copy for yourself, read her blog post here.
Some of Kama’s suggestions are things that are already part of my life, but there are others which I am going to try out as part of my 50 things to celebrate being 50. I particularly like the idea of going out to a restaurant to eat dessert. What a wonderfully fun, decadent and totally unnecessary thing to do! I’ll always err on the serious side and am prone to justifying it when I do eat out: “It’ll be too late to cook when I get home so better eat now” or “this is the only way for me to catch up with this friend”. I’m working at letting more frivolity into my life!
Another suggestion which really appealed to me, and which I am working on already, is creating a creative space. When I read that suggestion, I looked around me at the tiny room I call my office, which is cluttered with papers and stuff and sorely neglected. I don’t like housework and it is very low down on my list of priorities. And my office is more neglected than some rooms as I am the only one who uses it. But I also know that it is very important for me to feel creative and inspired, and our financial wellbeing could actually depend on how productive I am as a result. So I have started to clear the decks in order to make the small space more inspiring. I’ve now got some nice empty space on the notice board in front of me to put up some of the many postcards and pictures I’ve collected, and I’m looking forward to feeling better about my desk when I can see more of it!
This business of play is interesting me more and more. As I’ve mentioned before, earlier this year I attended one of Tracy Shave’s Giggle Together workshops and was introduced to the idea of adults learning to play again like children do. I started to realise that the art of play is an important part of life which we have largely forgotten about by the time we grow up and saw how we can make connections with people in a more authentic way when engaged in playful activity.
I also read John Williams’ book Screw Work, Let’s Play, about finding an occupation that you love and enjoy so much that it feels like play, not work. This message is really important, I feel, and is a key to changing lives.
Finally, to date, I had a wonderful conversation with my friend, the coach and trainer Bharti Kerai this morning, principally because I needed to talk to her about her area of expertise for my book on worry. Bharti talked to me about play being a way of finding your true self, and learning through play to let go of that sort of tight control that causes us to become chronically stressed.
So many different sources, but the same message: play is important, maybe even life-changing. Something that we might see as frivolous, silly, childish, a waste of time, can actually increase our confidence, reduce stress and help us to reconnect with our true selves.
So. I’d love to know, is there a part for play in your life? How does it show up and what does it do for you? And how could to branch out? Kama’s list will give you ideas and then you’re sure to think of more of your own. Make the time; it could make a difference!
Harriet what a pleasure to read this post. Thank you so much for the mention and also for the links to the other playful people.
I am convinced play in adulthood is life changing. I have run a few play workshops for adults and have watched transformations take place. Art therapy is also a powerful tool and can be life changing in a short space of time.
I remember once test running a play workshop with some friends. After a series of playful moments I decided that we would colour in for a while. The intention was to use both hands, switching back and forth from left to right and to be aware of how the body and mind was reacting to the switch from one hand to the other, in other words an awareness exercise. The exercise was supposed to last 10 minutes and in a sense it did. However 30 minutes later people were still colouring in, totally absorbed in the activity of peacefully colouring in. They didn’t want to stop so we had a discussion while colouring (luckily this was a test run lol). Everyone there said that they found colouring in very soothing and peaceful. They said it rested the mind and created space for them to relax, reflect and contemplate. When I asked who coloured in at home the answer was none of them. Some of these participants bought colouring books and colours after the workshop and used it at work as a tool when they were stuck. So simple yet so beneficial. This is what colouring in can do, just imagine what other forms of play can do.
Have fun Playing!
Kama
What a lovely story! It makes me want to start colouring in now! Thanks for sharing it.
I play, a lot! Mostly I play with the kitties, which helps them, too. I have conversations with my parrot, and in my writing, I find ideas that spark my imagination and are fun and “play” in those worlds. Great topic!
Animals are wonderful for helping us play and be our authentic selves. Thanks for the comment!
What a wonderful post! In some ways I have a very pronounced inner child – I’m an animation buff and a fan of fairy tales – but in others I definitely need to remember how it keeps a person light. My big struggle is both finding work that I love to do (my Tarot and coaching definitely fit!) and struggling to get through the parts that aren’t so fun (like marketing) without both things becoming a chore. I’ll definitely check this book out. I’m always looking for more ways to feed my creative, lighthearted side.
Great! Thanks for your comment.
I always considered myself to be lucky that I had young kids. So, I never had the opportunity to play 50 or 60- I had to play kids’ daddy, instead…And, that meant doing lots of things that folks my age never would consider as part of their routine… What a loss for them.