"Come and play
Everything's A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That's where we meet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street..."
I went to Sesame Street!! Well, kind of.
This past weekend I visited a replica of the 123 Sesame Street stoop at The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY.
Ya'll, let me say this much, my curious and wondrous heart was in her glory. I think I might have been one of the only grown ups crawling around and exploring as if I was 8 years old myself...which is why I found a fairy door in the butterfly sanctuary! (please tell me you are also an adult going through life looking for fairy portals...?)
But really, I share mindfulness tools with children (and grown-ups) through playful exploration, and what fun we have!
In our quick culture, this idea of "what mindfulness is" so often feels generic and overused. It's a word generalized so much that has almost lost it's value.
So if I may, mindfulness might not be what you think it is. It's not a chore, it's actually quite joyful! Having a true and dedicated mindfulness practice can make your life so much fun and playful. Through mindfulness you can let-go of how a grown-up "should act" or what's a "productive use of time".
Mindfulness can help you embrace play.
And I'm not the only one who feels this way. A few years ago, Kristin Wong of The New York Times wrote:
"We’re living in a world that’s more conducive to anxiety than playfulness. In the never-ending to-do list of adulthood, play can feel like a waste of time. We exhaust ourselves with tasks we should or have to do, but we rarely have time or energy for activities we want to do."
If you want to change your relationship with anxiety, the to-do list and the "shoulds", try dropping into the moment with a playful activity.
As a matter of fact, the benefits of play in adults also include:
Higher creativity
A better sense of hope
Helps you cope with stress
Better sleep
Enhanced empathy
Increased cognitive function and productivity
The Institute for Play has even identified different "Play Personalities" that helps us understand what style or mode of play makes us most comfortable when being playful.
You can discover yours here. (I think I'm a Creator)
What do you say, could you give yourself permission to add a little play into your day? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Skip down the hallway
Stand on the back of your grocery cart and cruise through the parking lot (bonus points for pumping off the ground with one foot to gain speed)
Blow some bubbles
Watch an old Sesame Street or Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (and just watch, no multi-tasking)
Draw a chalk hopscotch on the sidewalk...and then hop it out
Climb a tree
Run through a field without a goal or destination
Grab a paperclip and ask yourself "what else can I do with this?"
Play UNO, or Simon Says, or a nostalgic board game
Read a children's book
Draw with a crayon, or print out a coloring sheet
Ohhh, I hope you do it, and if you do, notice how you feel and what thoughts come up. Your inner critic will likely have opinions about it, but honestly, they aren't worth listening too. They haven't really been all that helpful before, have they?
Have fun!! And pretty please, share and suggest ideas and/or experiences.
Now, go ▶ (see what I did there? it's a play button...but you are so playful, you got it).
ps: Wong's NY Times piece is very insightful, you can find it here.
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