Week 1 Play Suggestions

Playing is being mindful.

Grab a partner and dos-e-doe pick, pick a suggestion and away you go……………

Invite others………..friends, co-workers, book club, your exercise group, walking/running/cycling/gym partner, spouse or Post the list of suggestions on a bulletin board along with the guidelines.

Week 1

1.      Visit a quilt store – check out the colours, textures, designs, & quilts on display.  You don’t have to purchase but take your time observing.

2.      Purchase bubbles.  Sit on your front step in the early morning to blow bubbles.  Sit at the back of your home to blow bubbles.  Sit in your vehicle in a parking lot to blow bubbles out the window.  (I love watching peoples’ reaction). Blow them spring, summer, fall & winter.

3.      In the spring, participate in Maple Sugar day.  Take note of the sounds, smells and savor the taste of the maple sugar.

4.      Find a church you haven’t visited before & enter to sit, taking note of the colour, texture, sounds & smells Respect their customs and try to understand a little more about their beliefs.

5.      Watch a cartoon or cartoons on a kid’s TV station.

6.      Escape to a matinee.  

7. Have a technology-free day.

8.      Write a poem.  Don’t get caught in the perfection of rhyme.  Write another poem using the starting line “Roses are Red/Violets are Blue…………finish it in a fun way.  Now do it again!

9. Go for a walk, and take your camera with you to document the experience.

10.   Snow is getting moist to make it the perfect time to build a fort…….then build a snowman behind the fort.  If the snow isn’t great for making snowballs……..then dig a tunnel.  Decorate the snowman in the traditional way with hat, scarf, use rocks or large buttons for the eyes, carrot, and buttons down the front.  Now add your own special touch to create Magic.  Maybe take a photo.  Love to see you photo. 

I Dare you, no Double Dare you to take time to Play.

 

Dare to Play.........

 

A few days ago I was shoveling snow from the driveway when I walked over the very high snow bank in front of our home and decided it needed to be decorated.  The sun was shining; the snow was melting so time to have a little fun.  Armed with a spray bottle filled with coloured water I proceeded to write ‘Hello Spring” ending with a smiley face.  The design made me smile but most of all I realized how much fun I had.  I enjoyed myself.   I was engaged in the moment and lost track of time.  In other words, I entered into what experts call a ‘state of play.’

Our attitude may the stopping point for taking time to play, to enjoy a few moments of non-thinking, taking time to play so the heart will  sing.  So how about an attitude adjustment?   Which of these words would you have to cross out to adjust your attitude or give yourself permission to play - fear, comparison, someone may make fun of me, women don’t play, not proper way to act, play is for children, lack of imagination, lack of time, too busy

 As the experts define play, it's something you do for the enjoyment alone. It requires that your mind or your body (or both) be wholly active.  Play is done for its own sake—not caring if you lose the tennis match, or if your bike ride burns off a single calories, or whether the art meets the instructor’s standards. In other words, it's better if you don't give a damn.  Play boosts the mood because it forces the brain to relax.  Play gets the creative juices flowing.

Appointments are scheduled for other events in life so consider scheduling time for play.  Adult play is a time to forget about work and commitments and to be social in an unstructured, creative way. The focus of play is on the actual experience, not on accomplishing any goal. The idea to play is just have fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap the myriad of health benefits throughout life.

 

Play is just fun!!!

 Take a cue from a child - don't waste time not playing.

-       For 10 weeks, 5 - 10 suggestions from DARE to ENTER the PLAY ZONE will be emailed to you or you can check this blog site

-       Choose at least one suggestions from DARE to ENTER the PLAY ZONE & do it

-       Set aside time once a week to play – no less than 30 minutes while 60 – 90 minutes would be awesome

-       There are many play options to choose from, some cost money while other choices don’t cost money

-       Pick one small adventure………..give it a try before you say ‘no way’.

-       Check your mind, body & spirit for tension spots before starting…..then do a check when you are done

-       Take your time to enjoy the adventure,………….. don’t hurry, no time limit, no watches

-       Declare this time OFF LIMITS to everyone and everything

-       Later on ………………….Push the comfort level to pick an adventure that you wouldn't normally play

-       Only share if you wish, however it would be interesting hear about your adventure

-       Buy stickers & place them on your calendar to signify your date with Play

 

         ******* to register leave a comment/message using your first name only and I will let you know when the starting date will be

Marlene