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Article #237: The Importance of Play

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The Importance of Play he meant. Life is short and if you are
By Michelle L. Casto not careful, it will pass you by. During
In the book, The Three Boxes of Life, summer, we take more time to pay
Richard Bolles discusses the boxes of attention to the beauty of the sun and
learning, working, and playing. He surf, to chase the bumblebees and
suggests that most people have pursued butterflies, to get away from our
these dimensions in a linear sequence. everyday routines and strike out on
First we learn, then we work, and then adventures. We hang out with our friends
when we retire, we can finally play. His and family, travel to new places, run,
premise is that we should try to jump, swim, and laugh out loud. Oh, the
integrate all three elements thoughout lazy, hazy days of summer. If only it
our lifetime in order to achieve the most could last the whole year long.
fulfillment It can. We can learn to take the attitude
Conrad Hyers said, "We live in a society and freshness of summer and bring it into
where even play is turned into work. But our minds, hearts, and habits for all
the highest existence is not work, the four seasons. All we have to do is learn
highest level of existence is play." Play to bring more play into our everyday
is extremely important to our happiness lives. Some benefits of play are that we
and well-being. For grown up adults, play open our heart's wider, we notice more
is often viewed as frivolous or possibilities, we feel more alive, more
unnecessary, to be reserved only when the relaxed. Play replenishes and revitalizes
chores are done. Guess what--- the chores our human spirit. Here are 5 ways to be
will never be completely done, so you may more playful:
as well stop and enjoy the view, smell 1.Do kid-like activities. Play games,
the roses, kiss your lover, and have more swing on the swingset, wrestle and romp,
fun NOW. do a cartwheel or roll, practice a new
With the American lifestyle of work, dive.
work, work, we often put off taking 2.Release pressure. Let go of heavy
vacations or doing the fun stuff, saying, concerns, problems, or issues. Instead
that we'll get to it "someday." focus on being light, flexible, and
Unfortunately, that day never seems to stress-free.
come, and when it finally does, we are so 3.Trust in the universe. Know that you
drained or burned-out that we can't even can release the need to control
enjoy it! I am hear to tell you that life everything in life, and that you will
is not all about work and no play! We receive even more than you could hope
need to bring more balance to our lives. for.
And since summer is upon us, it is the 4.Hang out with playful people or
perfect time to develop a new "philosophy animals. Borrow pets or children and
of play." spend time with them. Do the things they
Summer time is meant to be fun time, do, learn from them. They have so much to
evoking images of days spent at the teach about the art of play.
beach, family picnics, and nights under 5.Go somewhere new. Travel is a great way
the stars. The warm and blooming season to pretend to be someone other than who
of summer reminds us to honor ourselves you normally are. You can trade in your
and to do the things we like to do. The responsible role for one more fun. Since
idea of summer is to wind down, sit back no one knows you, feel free to try
and relax, have some iced tea, and watch different things---fishing, scuba diving,
a sunset. It encourages us to be kind to or horse back riding.
ourselves, to give ourselves permission Play is an essential and important part
to "just be," and to slow down our pace a of a happy and whole life. If you can
bit. Once you learn to slow down, you take action each day to increase the
rediscover what is really important to amount of play you experience, you will
you. You can take time out of your busy get to know the real person behind all
schedule to reflect and make plans for your roles and responsibilities, tap into
the future you want to create. your true nature, and begin to feel like
My grandpa always used to say, "life is a kid again. My grandpa would certainly
best enjoyed at a slow pace." And the approve!
older I get, the more I understand what






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