We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. G.B. Shaw
As a child, we played outside for hours on end. We made forts in the woods, played all kinds of tag, and thought up crazy things to do like get up under a large cardboard box and walk around in the dark to see where we ended up. We created rock offices by the water’s edge, carved Styrofoam boats for our little bears to sail away in, played jacks and raced around the neighborhood on bikes. When we got super bored, we’d instigate a dog until it chased us, and sometimes suffered a well-deserved bite on the ass!
Can you recollect the games of your childhood… pogo sticks, musical chairs, hot potato, Parcheesi, whisper down the lane, kickball? Take this moment to close your eyes and attempt to feel the memories, the sweet connection to your body, the contagious laughter, and deep sense of community. Play is an avenue for practicing being in relationship.
As a middle school teacher, I saw a great need for our students to continue with recess and believe it to be a travesty that we discontinue playtime when kids become teens. And unfortunately, play typically dwindles from there.
And so, at the age of 60, I have taken up the slogan, Recess for Life. Playtime is a prerequisite for a vibrant life, and it is crucial that we make the effort to find ways to integrate play. Sadly, life gets in the way, and we stop playing and eventually forget how.
Often as adults we lose touch with our vital energy and desire to move our bodies. Our fun starts to revolve around more sedentary activities like watching TV, eating and drinking. These activities are fun too, but if they become the mainstay of our recreational life, it eventually stunts the physical acts that feed our soul.
I have a friend in California who recently quit drinking and started walking for a cause. She and her friend have taken the road less traveled and are seeing things anew as they travel on foot. They still go to concerts, museums and restaurants, sans alcohol. She is more vibrant and alive than I’ve ever seen her. I love this for her and admit I’m a bit envious.
A simple walk around the neighborhood with the right friend can be filled with magical adventures and outbursts of laughter. My childhood friend, Wendy, and I naturally attract people when we’re together; we radiate an energy and playfulness that others want a piece of; the UPS man stops to banter, a carpenter takes a break to chat, the gardener wants to share a fresh tomato.
I saw an Instagram post recently of two adult females on the playground. One friend pushed the other from a platform and as she sailed toward the opposite platform, she was unable to curb her momentum and bowled 3 little kids over into the sand (no one harmed). When she swung back to her friend, they literally slid to the ground howling in laughter!
While teaching, I tried to instill the concept of “healthy resources.” To this day I keep a list on my refrigerator to remind myself of things to do when I’m bored, depressed, or simply in need of healthy distraction.
Some of my students’ suggestions were to snuggle with a pet, listen to music, take a bath, read a book, work on a puzzle, drink hot chocolate, practice tricks on my skateboard, juggle a ball, shoot baskets, and take a walk.
Try it for yourself and put the list where you’ll see it. It could also be a family generated list!
Make that list, add to it, and post it. Take a picture and send it forward. Encourage each other to play every day. Instead of asking, “How are you?” ask “How will you play today?”
Perhaps the secret ingredient in the pure joy that comes with becoming a grandparent is that we begin to play again! And how about that pickleball!!!
Play comes in all forms! Next time you pull into the grocery store parking lot, pause for a moment to determine if you can dedicate an extra 10 minutes to make eye contact and smile at others. If you feel extra silly and courageous, crack a joke or do something funny to elicit a chuckle, even if only for yourself! Crack yourself up!
Let’s start a Recess for Life movement!
Play, Baby, Play, every day.