Got Play?

Passion Love Action You! Playing with your own divinity, spirit, heart, and spreading it around you. YES! When I share with people that I'm a play activist, most people look perplexed. Totally cool, I get that. What thirty year old says "I LOVE TO PLAY" while doing kart-wheels endlessly? It's not common, yet it's getting there.

Most of us are looking at our lives and sensing something shifting. Maybe we are noticing that we crave more quiet time, or we are watching kids and feeling the urge to just BE without the rules or requirements we have set upon ourselves.

What are these rules? Who wrote them and why are we following them really?

So, we can't color outside the lines anymore? Run around naked on the beach with a shovel to dig in the sand? Drool, mess up, speak out, say no, fall down and cry and then have it be over with. EXPRESS and then release. Stick our tongues out when something is boo- boo stinky. Say yes without hesitation or time limits.

BE playful.

The relationship we have to playing is very important to remaining true to ourselves. Play is the very essence of our spirit. We all want to explore, let loose, and not be "perfect" for at least one moment. What does play mean to you?

Maybe play means to skip down the street. Wear glitter underneath your suit.

Buy outrageous big flowers and place them all over your house. Walk down the game aisle at any store and give yourself permission to BE there and explore. Blow bubbles out of your car window. Paint rocks and decorate your driveway with hearts all over it with chalk. Say hello to a stranger and mean it. Call a friend for a play date. Have slumber parties. Watch your children, learn from them, and play with them, for they are play masters. Draw in the sand, climb mountains, sniff flowers, roll around in your grass, buy a slurpie, explore what it means to just giggle.

(I love that word giggle. How can you not giggle when you say it?)

Write giggle 50 times in your notebook and look at it when you wake up.

Learn something new. Put stickers on your bills. Get in touch with sharing play with others, and make this number one on your "to play" list. In what ways can you invite someone else to play with you?

I know that it is hard to find the "time." I get the time thing. As a planet we have created such limitations on our freedom. So much to do, so many places to be, and so many roles to sustain. All choices.Playing is a choice that can lighten the load. It can remind you that you are a magnificent being of love, instantaneously.

About The Author

Jenny Ward is the owner of PLAYWARD. PLAYWARDS mission is to celebrate the magnificence of being alive. Jenny is a licensed coach, speaker, author and PLAY ACTIVIST!

www.playward.com

jenny@playward.com

MORE RESOURCES:

Happiness shows how far UM has fallen - Sun-Sentinel.com

Road to Happiness: Paintings by Harianawalla - Daily Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp%3Fpage%3D2008%255C10%255C13%255Cstory_13-10-2008_pg12_10cid=0ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNGonmps84HGE_ZUFTGGY3gm2x28CwRoad to bHappiness/b: Paintings by Harianawalla/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDaily Times,nbsp;Pakistannbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The series titled ‘The Road to bHappiness/b’ comprises paintings glazed with coats of nonchalance that give off a feeling of lightheartedness, as if there is b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Parenting kids to health and happiness - TheMedGuru

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/parenting_kids_to_health_and_happiness-86113965.htmlcid=1256754914ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNFdeGYIP6wDnreLg1MFfHvnPOCAXAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=td-9an55dX8Jimgurl=www.themedguru.com/files/parenting.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2TheMedGuru/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/parenting_kids_to_health_and_happiness-86113965.htmlcid=1256754914ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNFdeGYIP6wDnreLg1MFfHvnPOCAXAParenting kids to health and bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTheMedGuru,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1According to a recent survey, children’s health is significantly related to household income as well as the parents’ education level. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

EDITORIAL: The keys to happiness - Trading Markets (press release)

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%2520News/1937033/cid=1254444536ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNF9QfpG7vxLV9GlzlmYrA2UsBA1jwEDITORIAL: The keys to bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTrading Markets (press release),nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Oct 12, 2008 (Boston Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- F | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Ford Motor Co. will introduce b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Poll: Political crisis brings down happiness index - Bangkok Post

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php%3Fid%3D131358cid=0ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNExUCZehegDT7XMNooxC7fpLzS1YAPoll: Political crisis brings down bhappiness/b index/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBangkok Post,nbsp;Thailandnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Gross Domestic bHappiness/b Index (GDHI) survey of 3293 respondents was conducted in 18 provinces from October7 to 11, ABAC Poll Research Centre director b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS - Naples Daily News

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.naplesnews.com/blogs/observation_post/2008/oct/12/moreplunderentry/cid=1255973992ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNHUtKDz7XjJeA9DuetJJ2N2dMRzBAMONEY CAN BUY bHAPPINESS/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNaples Daily News,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1With $850 billion dollars of consumer debt reported at the time of the CBS story that#39;s a lot bhappiness/b that got bought at someone else#39;s expense. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Happiness or bust - London Free Press

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/SundayEnt/2008/10/12/7057916-sun.htmlcid=1256769688ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNHWnn0Yj2UjTdFaBHgfVi4Dev393wbHappiness/b or bust/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLondon Free Press,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN HOLLYWOOD -- Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid duet on Your Cheatin#39; Heart as Phil Collins sings a real downer rendition of Separate Lives b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Dear Jamaica - Choosing happiness - Jamaica Gleaner

A Lot of Sunshine, Beauty and Happiness in quot;Happy-Go-Lucky” - eFluxMedia

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/10/10/happy_go_lucky/cid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNGsEv_x-sdSmK3c1XjARMNH381Dogimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=iGAkc4a0nooJimgurl=images.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/10/10/happy_go_lucky/story.jpg width=80 height=51 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Salon/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_A_Lot_of_Sunshine_Beauty_and_Happiness_in_Happy_Go_Lucky_26361.htmlcid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNEZOTfkH0y5gxZvwrpwVL_E37GcjgA Lot of Sunshine, Beauty and bHappiness/b in quot;Happy-Go-Lucky”/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6feFluxMedianbsp;-/font nobrOct 11, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Irene Collins quot;Happy-Go-Lucky,quot; the latest film from five-time Oscar nominee, director Mike Leigh, opened Friday. Sally Hawkins, who plays Poppy, b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2008/10/happiness_proves_its_own_rewar.htmlcid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNHQQf_NOGkbTS9vz5mxSbJtzmQohwbHappiness/b proves its own reward/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-2fd=Rurl=http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm%3Fnewsid%3D20158212%26BRD%3D2729%26PAG%3D461%26dept_id%3D569331%26rfi%3D6cid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNHUABkVWl37OWOwOS4dYRdCOSuZ5wPollyanna Poppy/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrGay City News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-3fd=Rurl=http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/2008/10/09/20081009mikeleigh1009.htmlcid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNEUn0FRzP86Vkz1Ka0759QzajgYcAIt#39;s not all happy, or lucky, for Mike Leigh/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAZ Central.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-4fd=Rurl=http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/10/features/encore/encore9.txtcid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNFoBkbZREiZZ1BF0uhEd_u30wVR_QnobrCarroll County Times (subscription)/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-5fd=Rurl=http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/movies/10happ.html%3Fref%3Dartscid=1255948746ei=A6TySMCYI4fM8ATAwvzIBwusg=AFQjCNHZIOEWUOFMxyxaHCan9iG5CioskwnobrNew York Times/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255948746hl=ennobrall 68 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

The Happiness Factor - HealthNewsDigest.com

Happiness - Google News

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