MY PLAYMATE

One of the things I love most
about you is that you are always
there to come play with me.
You are the one who reminds me of
Melanie singing I have
a brand new pair of roller skates,
you have a brand new key.
You are my playmate.

You are the one who when I
am pausing,
is my best friend and
says lets play.
You watch cooking shows with me,
listen to music with me,
makes me laugh,
brings me joy, and
says let’s play again.

You bring out my inner child.
and remind me you like to have fun too.
You love when we say
let’s play,
let’s laugh,
let’s be silly,
and have a good time.
I am so glad you are
my playmate.

You remind me to pause,
say I have the key
do you have the roller skates.
we have swung on swings,
read books,
splashed in water,
made blueberry banana bars
and hidden under the covers
we call tents.
Thank you for being
my playmate.

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.