“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty
of being happy.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
I saw this video a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. Not for the exercise benefits of taking the stairs, which I get and support of course, but for the human capacity for joy.
I love the playful spirit, fun, and joy the people have — that all people have. Sometimes, it just gets buried. The tasks of day-to-day living, the chores and responsibilities of life can get in the way, but it is always right there, under the surface.
To me, experiencing joy and fun IS one of life’s great responsibilities. It is not only your right, but your duty to love this life you have been given. Don’t wait for someone to put a piano keyboard on the stairs in front of you. Make your own fun and joy every day. Play as if your life depends on it, because when push comes to shove, it does.
I encourage you to watch the video above and think about the play opportunities in the lives of the children in your world. Are they ample enough? Child-led and directed? Or, perhaps not so much?
What adjustments can you make to your attitudes, behaviors, and choices to allow more time and space for true play (e.g. non-organized sports and activities)? How can you lend your voice to the play movement? I’ve got a few tips if you need them.
And remember, play isn’t just for kids, it’s important across the lifespan. This means you too, my fellow grown-ups. What actions can you take to make room for play in your life?
Lots to ponder. Might I suggest you do so outside, under a favorite tree or while on a walk in the woods?
Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.
~ Kahlil Gibran
By now, you have probably realized that I am a bit obsessed with going barefoot. It’s true. As a child, my mama called me the Barefoot Contessa — she could barely keep me in shoes.
So, in honor of the end of a frantic week and the coming of Frolic Friday, let’s kick off our shoes and relax.
Turn on the sprinkler (early in the day!) or head to the nearest splash park. The kids can splash around while you enjoy a shady spot and a catch-up on that book you’ve been meaning to finish; or
Set-up old school games like Twister, croquet, or badminton in the yard or nearby park and have a ball!
As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just kick off your shoes and have some fun. You’ve earned it. The birds will be singing, the squirrels darting to and fro — you’ll laugh and forget it all for a bit, which in my humble opinion, is a very worthy pursuit.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go get these shoes off.
