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