Play

Revisiting a challenge from February of 2016: Play! Play is essential for learning, for mental flexibility, for relaxation and joy! Yet many people stop playing as they get older, under social pressure to leave childish things behind. Now is your chance to reawaken the childlike spirit within yourself to support wholeness and happiness. It’s okay to be silly sometimes, whether you’re fully grown or not! Play can open up your curiosity, inspire your imagination, and soothe your spirits when you’re feeling altogether too serious!

This challenge offers a chance to build mental and emotional resilience with the relaxation and creativity of play.

Habit:
Do something lighthearted and spontaneous
Take yourself less seriously

To Do:
Play inside (do a coloring sheet, draw a picture, play with toys, talk to your pets or stuffed animals)
Play outside (build a snowman or a sandcastle, make a fort, blow bubbles, draw with chalk)
Play a game offline (board game or card game)
Invent something silly (a song, a rhyme, a pretend recipe, a joke, a make-believe character)

Reflection:
I appreciated the reminder that being spontaneous and flexible can be about creativity and fun. I often forget this as I struggle with my own reflexive rigidity! Relaxing into a creative and curious frame of mind is a much nicer way to cultivate spontaneity. And the dedication to playing more helps me be a bit more of an engaged parent, too.