Two Types of Play
7.5.23
How Often Do You Play?
Play has been on my mind in two forms: in the whimsical, childlike-imagination way and through the idea of experimentation.
I’ve been babysitting a toddler who often reminds me how to enter the world of imagination. We are in the land of fixing cars, trucks, shopping at our ice cream shop, playing “I Spy” and making up stories. It’s seriously so fun. I am away from my phone for hours and simply PLAYING. I am grateful to be receiving such a powerful reminder of presence and silliness. I know there are some parents reading this nodding along!
Where or When are you reminded of childlike play? Who helps remind you?
Another form of play is experimentation. Last week, as I was clenching my butt while doing a major deadlift, I was reminded of the energy of play via challenging mental and physical pursuits. For me, so much of exercising is a form of play—playing with what is possible, when it’s possible, how it’s possible. Whether that experimentation comes in the form of running, lifting, dancing, acro yoga, cycling, stretching…all of it is some version of an experiment of the mind and body. It’s deeply satisfying to see the positive effects of playing in this form!
Where or when do you experiement with what is possible, both physically and mentally? Who helps you do this?
If there is any season of the year that encourages us to play, it’s summertime for sure.
THREE WAYS TO INCORPORATE PLAY:
+move in a childlike way
(dancing, rolling down a hill, jumping)
+try something new physically or mentally
(new exercise, try a craft you used to love)
+take a different route than usual
(on your walk, around the grocery store, to your gym)
Three Things
‘Tis the season of lots of sweat and mineral depletion. I love making a Mineral Mocktail (from Meg at Grounded Nourishment) or simply adding salt to my lemon water on the daily. Another fave brand of electrolytes = Superieur Electrolytes!
Jed has been reading Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative ACT: a Way of Being and is loving it.
My favorite way to support my mobility and recovery in movement-form is through Kara Duval Pilates. Kara approaches functional mobility through the lens of pilates, but think of it more of a lightly structured, guided movement style!
