Play! May we all be safe to play!

Play infers safety — a freedom to exist, to breathe, to enter a world where one is unaware of ego and utterly engaged in the moment. Play suggests vulnerability, willingness, letting go, laughter, and joy.

We need play — purposeless action to balance our purposeful “adulting.” Said simply, play balances purpose and provides levity for the journey.

I, like many, am focused often on living my purpose and directing my actions in service to that purpose. My meditation, the other day, however, was all about play, and I gave my mind permission to have fun…to purposelessly meander.

Remembrance of Play

Sitting on a floor and bouncing the ball — picking up metal jacks with a quick swipe of my hand.

Chopper (“Chopperoo,” I called it) — my Big Wheel tricycle — bracing as I hit the right pedal of the cycle hard, making my Chopperoo swing around fast.

Lite Brite — looking for little, colored bulbs to punch black paper against a very hot lightbulb to create a picture to show my mom.

Spin art — laughing at the mess it would make when the paper flew off the holders, a kaleidoscope of paint.

Metal skates in the basement — falling on the cold cement floor and gleefully getting up to try again.

Sandals that I would pretend were tap shoes — with orange and yellow plastic bands across the top of my foot — loving the sound of my heal against the floor, pretending I was on stage.

Tetherball — feeling fierce when my hand slapped the ball, sensing my power, (especially if my dad missed, and I scored the point).

Softballs — too big for my small hand that never went the distance I hoped that they would — knowing my dad would smile.

Pompoms — bunches of blue and white plastic strings — borrowed from a real cheerleader across the street — flying in the air as I danced my made-up routines.

Tops — spinning on the linoleum floor.

Homemade “snow” — a delicious concoction of sugar and vanilla mixed with freshly fallen crystals from the sky, melting in my mouth.

Homemade playdough — warm to the touch after mom just made it — wondering, “How did she do it?”

Record players and 45s — Earth Wind and Fire, Melissa Manchester, The Emotions You Got the Best of My Love, The Carpenters— practicing so I could sing every word.

Books that would read the story to me — turning each page to the sound of the beep.

Avon samples my mom would give me that I would use on my Barbie doll head — trying to figure out what else to do with this BIG head!

Pinball — a real-life stand-up pinball machine made for a very small, little person like me — making me feel all grown-up.

My Chrissy (red hair) and Valerie (blonde) dolls — pressing their belly buttons to make their hair shrink and grow.

My Baby Alive — feeding and waiting for poop to arrive.

Payday, Monopoly, Trouble, LIFE, Don’t Break the Ice, and Ker-Plunk.

And then there were the woods and my friends’ backyards —playing with Tonka trucks and picking up rocks.

The thrill of hide and seek — hoping against hope I would not be found, tagged, and “it.”

These are the memories of times long ago.

Remembrances of play I’ll never forget.

Still Playing

What are your childhood memories of play? What remains?

For me, I still love cheerleaders — I’m not ashamed (ok, just a little, or I wouldn’t mention shame) — I watch Making the Team — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders —every season with the eyes of a young girl just looking for a new dance move.

I still choreograph dance, and I teach my dance teacher my routines, so my friends can do “my songs.”

I still love lipstick — only I’m not a Barbie doll head — and it’s not Avon.

I love games — a phrase that can make some of my friends run in the other direction, or say, “Time to go!” while other friends are always up for Game Night — the movie or actually playing games (except now it’s Telestrations, Rummy Cube, Cards Against Humanity, and the like).

I still play in dirt — planting flowers and shrubs. And, I have a small collection of rocks called crystals.

How do you play? When are you free and safe to play? I hope it is often.

If it’s not as often as you would like, begin by spending some time alone and thinking about what used to bring you joy. See if you can bring that, whatever that is, forward playfully, joyfully today!

May your heart dance with the play of your choosing.

Journal Prompt

This is a season for visioning — a New Age of Aquarius, I am told!

The blank page invites me onto a new playground, dares me to “come outside and play, ” and journeys with me toward my stars.

What’s your vision?

• What do you want to do?
• Who do you want to be?
• What do you want to have?
• How does play fit into this vision?

May we vision our purpose balanced with play!

A heart-felt “Thank you!” to Salt Power Yoga PGH for giving me the opportunity to “play with the page” for their 10-day Reset.

Namaste.

Love & blessings,

Sherri