Remember when you were a child? Way, way back, then, yeah. No, wait, just a little further. Yes, there we are. When life was all about playing. "Go outside and play!" and you were off, without a glance over your shoulder or moment of thought to what you might need. Back then jumping off the porch was great fun. So was kickball, hopping on your bike, hopscotch or hide and seek. Indoors was OK too.There were coloring books, dress up, building villages out of legos and on and on. I don't recall ever being bored when I had my imagination in tow.
Then, I grew up. Life got complicated! Worrying about working and paying bills and feeding myself and driving and the ever present concern of not embarrassing myself. What will they think if I...? Fun had boundaries,carefully constructed boundaries. Hiking, dancing, dinner, drinking, these were acceptable ways to have fun with friends but so much was lost.
I'm on a mission to recapture the joy of my childhood. With the added bonus of being an adult, so no one can tell me to take it outside, quiet down or stop hitting my brother! Well, maybe I won't hit my brother. :-/
This week, I've started scheduling play dates - with myself and with friends. Sunday morning I went to the beach and played in the ocean. Friday evening I am having a slumber party, complete with stuffed animals and PJs. And no one to tell me I've had too much ice cream! I'm getting back into finger painting, crochet and throwing in spontaneous dance breaks for good measure.
The biggest obstacle I have found lies in my inner critic. She tells me I'm not doing it right - that someone else can be more skillful in their creativity and thus, I shouldn't try. I'm not listening. I drown her out by singing at the top of my lungs.
What will you do today to satisfy your inner child? Duck, duck, GOOSE!
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