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