I find it curious how all the wonderful, fun ideas and feelings of youth have been transcribed into “adult speak”. With spring in the air, warmer temperatures, buds appearing on the trees and blooming flowers magically showing up all over town, it seems the logical thing to do here is get excited!!
When we were kids this time of year brought thoughts and dreams of long summer days. Longer daylight hours compute to more time to play! School will be out soon and the anticipation of this fact is adding stress to teachers who struggle to hold the attention of hundreds of children who’s primary focus in on summer vacation and as far from the classroom as one could imagine.
You can already see children running all over parks and open areas with joy and laughter and enthusiasm. While adults everywhere are considering spring cleaning, digging up the yard and preparing to plant gardens. We are trying to decide what needs painted or replaced as we look at the outside of our houses as if it’s the first time in months. Perhaps it is. And where will you find time (and money) for all this in addition to the daily job and tasks that already inundate your time and attention?
We have taken a lot of the fun out of life. We can’t even get on a bicycle anymore without thinking of how many miles we need to go in order to burn the number of calories necessary to maintain our weight or drop a few pounds. Running and any thing that resembles gymnastics and exercise are now all about health, weight loss, getting fit and no longer about having fun and enjoying the now of life.
What happened? Well, truly you cannot answer that question by saying, “I grew up” or “I am more responsible now”, because those statements are just a part of the story you are telling yourself.
I don’t believe for one second we were ever supposed to stop playing. Life isn’t about work, struggles, being serious, day in and day out - - it is about living. And when, exactly do you feel most alive? When you laugh, when you play, you forget about time and worry and work and live in the now moment.
Remember when you played and the time flew by? You even forgot about chores, eating and getting to bed on time. Ah, the world was free and so were you!
Well, this same world is still here and today it is waking up. Soon it will be decorated in playful, delightful colors. The trees, grass and flowers are all coming to life as the birds are singing you a song about waking from your winter slumber. Instead of getting up and shutting the window to shut out the noise, why not listen and be thankful? Another spring is here. And with it comes all the color and splendor of springs past. The very smell in the air awakens in you the many springs of your youth. These memories are calling to you to consider the days of long, lazy summers. Reminding you of what it was like to run across a field for the sheer fun of it! You are being reminded what it feels like to be alive and anticipate today and tomorrow and the next day.
There was time for each of us when we had nothing to worry about because all our needs were met. Well, dear friends, all your needs are still being met - - the same Being that watches over the birds, the flowers and the trees is watching over you. Let’s let go of the worry and work and stress and focus on the light, the laughter and joy of spring.
No, you don’t have to quit your job or toss your responsibilities out the window. All you have to do is take ten minutes a day to laugh, to play and wake up to the joy of life you were created to live.
There is a fun gene in each of us waiting to be unleashed. This can happen by laughing out loud at the silliest thing. It comes with letting go and trusting that this moment is the most important one of our lives.
This week you will have many opportunities to laugh and play. I encourage you to embrace each one, relish it; immerse yourself in the very joy of living. Laugh until your face hurts. Run until you are out of breath, even if that is just a few feet. Play a game, any game! Dance across the kitchen floor and smile and wave at people in traffic, like you did when you were four! Consider all the ways you can play and wake up to this day, this amazing world and this incredible life you have been blessed with, right now.
And for those adults reading this who are having a difficult time with the message - - let me provide it in a more mature manner. This week, your assignment is to incorporate play in your schedule, plan some time to have fun and add laughter to your daily agenda.
No comments:
Post a Comment