When is the last time you played like a child – carefree, full on, with abandon?
The ability to play is something I have been thinking about lately.
When I ask participants in my Hook a Healing Mat workshops what drew them to take the class, a common theme is the need to learn how to play again, to reconnect with a sense of joy which has been lost due to grief or responsibilities over the years. Here are some of their comments:
“Awakening is how I would describe the Healing Mat Workshop. The workshop has re-awakened my creative and spiritual life. Instead of just surviving and making it through each day. I now embrace nurturing my life once again. Playfully and spiritually The Healing Mat workshop had reminded me who I am.”
“Meryl is using her favourite medium to gently guide us through a unique process of discovery. It is far more than a skill-learning class. I do not know where this will lead me but am encouraged each class to open up and create freely without rules and boundaries.”
So what does it mean to play? I did a Google search and found a number of definitions. Here are some that spoke to me:
Take part in (as in a sport)
Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children
Engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose
How does it feel to play?
To me play feels light, bubbly, free, without fear of looking silly or saying the wrong thing
Here is a photo of the products of a day spent with a new friend learning to over-dye fabric. It was a playful experiment and I was not attached to the outcome. What resulted was a wonderful, surprisingly beautiful collection of fibres and a really fun day. This has opened up all kinds of creative possibilities for me and that feels expansive and exciting.
A Playful Design
My process after writing about an energy or quality I’d like more of in my life is to begin visualizing and sketching what this energy would look or feel like. Here are some of the designs I have been pondering and playing with to represent Playing full on. Let me know which one you think I should hook!
Summer time challenge to play
If play is not a natural part of your daily life, I would like to challenge you to think about how you could incorporate a sense of play into your daily life. You could call it a summer project or a summer holiday every day for just a little bit at a time. I’d love to hear what you are doing to incorporate a sense of play on a daily basis. Feel free to comment below or share on my Facebook page Meryl Cook The Healing Mat Lady.
