WHY I PLAY

So it is the last day of the year and one of those days I should be working my ass off to finish up tons of projects, but honestly all I want to do is play. So why is it that we think it is ok for kids to play, but we don’t support adults playing as much. I have been, and am still, working on remembering that play not a guilty pleasure. Play brings me joy. It helps me have healthy relationships with others. It keeps me creative. It helps me solve problems and it is fun.

Play is me looking at or making art. It is about me reading books, watching movies because I want to, not just because I have to. It is about me being stupid and laughing and dreaming and flirting with my wife. Play is what keeps me feeling as close to my wife after 15 years as I did when we first met. Play is what I do with those I love and it is a safe way for me to begin relationships with people I don’t know yet. Maybe that is why I love doing Pampered Chef parties; they give me a chance to play with others.

Play for me is that which fills me with moments of surprise, pleasure, joy and connection to the universe in a way nothing else can.

Play does not have be about something I do, it can just be how I am feeling. I love to crochet for example and that is fun and playful and creative, but I have friends who hate it and would not consider that play. Play for me is about remembering not to take everything seriously. 

During those times when I am struggling, I surround myself with playful people and kids and people I love. Their energy fills me and the environment and before I know it I am playing 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What are you imagining for 2017?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Use your imaginatoin! Pretend and play.

SONG OF THE WEEK

sometimes we just want to have fun! While Cyndi Lauper says girls just want to have fun. We all need to have fun sometimes regardless of what sex we are. https://youtu.be/PIb6AZdTr-A

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take time each day to play, create, and imagine.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you doing what you love?

WHAT'S UP DOC?

When most people think about meditation, they may think about water, peace, bliss, quiet, breathing, or mindfulness. When I asked my friends what they thought they gave me a diversity of answers. However, none of them said Bugs Bunny. However, Dean Slutyer, author of When the Chicken Crossed the Road, suggests that Bugs Bunny's classic line is a mantra. The first part evokes "the pause before formless awareness concretizes into words and thoughts: the wisdom of uncertainty, omnidirectional openness to all possibilities, the child-mind that is required to enter the kingdom of heaven." The second phase presents the challenge for our meditation: "What's the story? What's reality?"

Breathing in: Eh, . . .
Breathing out: what's up, Doc?

So today, take a few minutes to sit, meditate, and practice this Bugs Bunny mantra. Not only will you find yourself reaping the benefits of meditation, but having fun in the process. Not only will you think of meditation differently after today, but Bugs Bunny as well.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you working at growing?

It's Sharing Time!

It's Sharing Time! Who makes you laugh?  http://inspiritual.biz/spiritual-discussion/2016/12/26/who-makes-you-laugh

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What does your soul sound like? Is it singing?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Happy Holidays! Regardless of what you celebrate or don't -- take time today to play and enjoy time with family and or friends.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When was the last time you asked someone to play? When was the last time you were asked?'

YUP YUP YUP

I am always amazed at how Spirit speaks to me. As I listened to an interview with Wallis Byrd, which Zoe was listening to, I found myself laughing. Once again, Spirit was giving me inspiration in a way only Spirit could do. I have so many things on my plate, many of which I am releasing and removing, especially those which no longer give me joy. I have come to this place where I have come to realize that if I am not enjoying it, if I cannot infuse joy into it, then it is not for me to continue to do. So now I play games with my cleaning, I sing songs and dance while I am doing chores around the house. I listen to Pharrell Williams’ song Happy whenever I am having trouble laughing or smiling or feeling overwhelmed by the stress.

In the interview, Byrd talked about how she worked so hard at trying to write music that she could not write. It was not until she moved and disrupted her routine that she realized that she was the architect of her life and her music. The reality we all are. I am the architect, or as don Miguel Ruiz would say, the artist of my life. I have the power to paint my life with paths of joy, peace, love, light and positive energy or not.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What one thing would you do for fun if you tapped into your inner child today?

SONG OF THE WEEK

what are you going to do today to make this the best day of your life? Have some fun1 https://youtu.be/Y66j_BUCBMY

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Release your fears of what other people might think. Let your hair down and have fun.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are your creative energies blocked? Take time to play!

UNIVERSAL PLAYGROUND

It seems like no matter where I turn this month in my study of play, I am led back to the Hindu notion of the play of God.  Even when I am studying Ignation spirituality and play, I find reference to the Hindi concept of “leela.” One of the things I have come to appreciate about Iganation spirituality is that is about proceeding in a path which involves reflection, discernment, and self-awareness. It is about an inner transformation and journey which radiates externally. It is not necessarily associated with a specific religious school of thought.

It is through this study that I was introduced to Anthony de Mello, who once wrote:

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Give this a try. Give freely, love fully, and play feverously.

It's Sharing Time!

It's Sharing Time! Practice of Play  http://inspiritual.biz/spiritual-discussion/2016/12/19/practice-of-play

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Keep your spirit young! Keep playing!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have fun! Play games!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Release, let go, enjoy and have fun -- play!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS (PART 2)

Maybe it is the theme for this month, but I have found myself singing and/or listening to Julie Andrews sing A Few of My Favorite Things several times this month. I love this song, especially as a reminder to practice play because it is all about the things that one enjoys and loves, like “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things.”

So I started thinking about some of my favorite things.

Cuddling with my kittens and having them lick me.

Baking cookies with friends and sharing home made meals and creating memories

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

it is amazing what happens when you combine play and work

SONG OF THE WEEK

There is nothing like Weird Al Yankovich to make you laugh. His videos are so silly. I hope this one gives you something to chuckle about and inspires you to laugh https://youtu.be/ZcJjMnHoIBI

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you talented enough that you know how to play?

TIME FOR A MICRO LAUGH BREAK

Recently someone asked me why I had chosen to spend an entire month focusing on the spiritual practice of play. Why is it that play is not seen as spiritual? Play is powerful in that it enhances our free spiritedness. It also counter balances predictability and seriousness. One can be spiritual and free spirited at the same time. There are times to be serious, but they are times to be playful and kick back and enjoy life. Laughter and play can actually help people with their spiritual journeys and their ability to learn. Several of the spiritual teachers who I admire have lured me in with their humor.

For example, the Dalai Lama was once asked what he wanted for his birthday. He said nothing. On his birthday, his friends gave him this ornately decorated box. He opened it and smiled and said thank you. You gave me exactly what I wanted. The box was empty. They had given him nothing. That story, was both serious and humorous. It made me laugh and think all at the same time.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Stay young, keep playing.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Play hard or don't play at all.

It's Sharing Time!

It's Sharing Time! Play Memory  http://inspiritual.biz/spiritual-discussion/2016/12/12/play-memory

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When you love what you are doing it is not work

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What would others discover by playing with you for an hour?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take time each day to be silly and play.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Ok so I am all about practicing play this month. So I figured I would make myself laugh and share some cartoons I love and maybe a few jokes and or stories that make me laugh. Hope you can see the humor and laugh with me

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we find the humor hidden in those everyday moments

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Just for today - -go with the flow

JUST PLAY!

So often, especially as adults, we forget to take time to play. We get so consumed in the seriousness of life. So I thought I would share some ideas about how to let go and play.

• Forget what you look like 'in public.'  I am not saying go out without clothes or in clothes you have worn for several days in a row, but don’t always be concerned about how you look. Seriously, who cares.
• Wear clothes that are comfortable and shoes with which you could easily kick a ball.
• Keep toys and books around you that lighten you up. I have a website bookmarked that plays Pharrell Williams Happy for 24 hours.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have you ever thought about how much fun the Divine had in creating this world? What if we played like the Divine played?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Today just take time to play

It's Sharing Time!

It's Sharing Time! Play Sounds  http://inspiritual.biz/spiritual-discussion/2016/12/5/play-sounds

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Play does not have a purpose other then to be play, so play

.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take time each day to laugh, especially at yourself.

.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is no need to pretend to be playing, just let your playful nature out.

MAKE ME LAUGH

Dear God,

You have a sense of humor. Here I am in the most stressful month of my life and the spiritual practice you have led me to focus on is play. Here I am in a space when there are more things on my to do list, then there appears to be time for the things I want to do list. Final projects are coming in from my students, I am doing a record number of Pampered chef parties in a two week period for myself, editing a document for a client, planning my upcoming winter course, meeting with clients, facilitating groups, and making time for day to day activities like sleeping, eating, showering, time with Zoe and time with the cats.  I would like to say I am busy, however, I am working at releasing that word from my vocabulary.

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.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You cannot make play happen, just let go and have fun and then you are playing.

One Spirit/Many Voices

This month's newsletter is now available for downloading http://inspiritual.biz/s/December-2016-One-Spirit-Many-Voices-Newsletter.pdf

SONG OF THE WEEK

May we all remember to take time each day to play. https://youtu.be/7a4DCxAi020

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Go deep today and play!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

I have heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. So this week I thought I would do something different and post some of my favorite images that evoke a feeling of peace in me.  As you gaze at them, may they do the same for you 

This is Washington Allston's Landscape with a Lake

Peter Severin Krøyer's Summer Evening on the Southern Beach

A Day of Peace - Paintings by John Lautermilch

Karna Bahadur Dura - Art From Nepal

World Peace Painting by Deborah Ronglien

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we each find the courage to tear down the walls of oppression and resistance

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we support each other in being the best we can be

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Who do you need to partner up with?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we fill our lives with light and love

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

MAY WE EACH WORK ON UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER

.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Achieving peace within ourselves and with others is a process; one must keep working at achieving it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

At a time when our country is divided, may we use this day to begin to come together as one human family.