Elves, fairies and knights, “Oh my!”

Play isn’t just for children!

(Wait, don’t roll your eyes at me, read to the bottom ;)

As adults, we need playtime and lots of it.

I would argue that it is one of the most important skills to cultivate and support as we grow and age.

Last weekend I went to the Renaissance Faire in Ohio.

It was some nerdy-ass crazy fun.

Elves,

Fairies,

Knights…. “Oh my!”

There were costumes, theatrics, food, drink, and sexiness for days!!

It was like stepping onto an adult-sized playground and it was excellent.

My mood elevated immediately, and the rate at which creative ideas flowed through my mind and spun around my heart was incredible.

I walked away from the day feeling joyful, free and full of inspiration.

Now, can I go to the Ren Faire every weekend, sadly, no.

But is play something I can and should bring into my life regularly?

Abso-fucking-lutely.

Last week, I met with a client who is having a difficult time; she felt like her life was crumbling right before her eyes.

We could have spent hours breaking down strategies and making plans on how to “fix” her life.

However, the message that came through over and over in our time together was this..

Seek joy.

Seek your unique joy.

Damn.

Unique joy!

I loved this message for her.

But it got me thinking.

How will we uncover our unique joy if we do not let ourselves play, experiment, or even dilly-dally without expectation?

We won’t.

We will mimic what someone else has told us our joy is, only to find ourselves balls-deep in an activity we care little about or get anything from.

*like that time I tried to get into the card game Euchre. I ended up making everyone mad because I was so bad at it. It.. Was. Awful!*

I know that somewhere along the way someone told you play time was over, you’re too old and it was time to get serious about life.

Well, f*ck that.

Hear me, playtime never ended; it is incredibly important, and life without it is bland and stressful.

So please for the sake of humanity and YOUR sanity, play a game, go to a concert, walk aimlessly through a thrift store, take an art class, lay on a blanket in the park or even buy an elf-themed costume and frolic freely through the meadow.

I do not f*cking care how it looks, just do it.

Listen, I understand the resistance to play.

I’ve gone through a whole long process that makes it feel safe in my body to be playful and joyful.

It’s taken a lot of time and commitment.

But it still started with me trying,  taking the first step.

Remember, you are the one writing this story.

Maybe it’s time to write boldness and bravery into the pages of your life and welcome the life-changing magick of play.