Don’t Forget to Play
Ivy Griffin
Do you remember how it felt when you did something you loved as a kid? Like, the kind of play that really used to light you up? The thing that you always looked forward to or daydreamed about?
Was it -
riding your bike with the wind on your skin and the world whizzing past?
opening a book and losing yourself in whole other worlds?
creating those worlds in your own imagination?
hearing the swoosh as your basketball hit nothing-but-net?
watching the birds, bugs, and critters around you with fascination?
holding your favorite crayon color and seeing what unfolded?
Really, take a moment, even close your eyes, and recall your favorite pastimes when you were young.
What were you doing? Who was with you, or were you alone?
Were you inside or out? What was the weather or temperature like?
What did you experience in your body (like the burn in your thighs as you pedaled fast or the coolness and stickiness of the dough in your hands as you made cookies)?
How did you feel?
What did you believe in that moment?
What stands out to you as you remember these times?
For me, I’m struck by the lightness of my play and how much I lived in the moment. Whether I was spending hours swimming and enacting Indiana Jones-like adventure stories or completely swept up in my current craft project, I wasn’t worried about what came next. I was fully focused and immersed. And that presence brought me joy and lightness.
When’s the last time you felt this way?
Of course, as we get older and have many more experiences, the sparkliness of new experience dims, but usually the joy of our passions remain.
As adults, it can feel like our to-do lists and responsibilities never end. (Because literally, they don’t.) On top of that, world events can break our hearts and take a huge toll on our hearts and minds. As highly sensitive people (HSPs), our feelings of burden, overwhelm, worry, and stress can easily take over and choke out the energy for play.
However, play is even MORE important when you’re feeling worn down. It may be the last thing on your mind, but it really is what your body and soul need - maybe more than anything else.
(This doesn’t mean the awful stuff is ok. It’s still awful. We’re focusing on taking a both/and approach here.)
As HSPs, we are more impacted by negative experiences, AND we benefit even more from positive experiences than the typical person. This is a 2-sides-of-the-same-coin bit that we can use to our advantage.
While we certainly can’t stop negative experiences from happening, we can create fun, playful, lighthearted, refreshing experiences that help counteract the tough stuff. Because we know the negative stuff is likely to happen on a regular basis, we deserve to play on a regular basis too.
Right now, today, what feels like play for you?
When is the next time you can give yourself time to play?
And, yes, please play even if - or especially if - you’re feeling world-weary and heart-heavy or there are still dishes in the sink or errands to be run. There’s so much in the world that we don’t have a lot of power over, and those to-dos will always be there,
AND, you deserve to take a break and play anyway.
Have fun out there,
Ivy
Founder/Director, CAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor
she/her
Thrive Therapy & Counseling