Play Time!

Hey! You're looking positively amazing today! Did you do something different with your hair? Did you do some exercise or eat a healthy breakfast? Did you play at all today? Well whatever you're doing, it's working because you are glowing with youth. Speaking of youthfulness, yesterday my friend Ella came over and being 15 years old, and growing up, and having to think about our futures we decided it was time for a break from being a teenager. So guess what we did? We built a fort. Yes that's right, a good ole fashioned fort made of sheets and pillows and clothes pins. Now you may be thinking "15 years old and still playing like 8 year olds?" Yes, we are! And I think it's good for you! Taking a break from being all up-tight and mature, and just playing like a child again is beneficial to your health. We were moving around, being creative and innovative, sharing some laughs, and allowing ourselves to enjoy the simple act of sitting underneath a canopy of blankets that we created in my living room. If you are able to do these childish things with your friends and not care about being judged as immature and silly, I think that is a sign that your friendship is one that is destined to last. So play everyday! Whether that means climbing a tree, having a snowball fight, finger painting, jumping in puddles, skipping instead of walking to work, colouring in a colouring book, or building a fort. Just remember what it was like to be a child, the wonderment at everything new, the joy when seeing the world from a different perspective, the pride of building something all by yourself. These feelings don't come as easily as we grow older, we have to let ourselves be happy. Children have no trouble with this because they are blissfully unaware of their surroundings, they don't know what they don't know. But as we grow up and learn and observe others, we now know what we don't know. And this knowledge makes us self-conscious, we don't allow ourselves to enjoy life to the fullest because we are worried about being judged or that we don't deserve it. You do deserve it! Okay, I will admit going to a job interview in footsie pyjamas and cape might be pushing it a bit. But maybe one night if you feel like drinking apple juice instead of wine, go for it! Or if you see a log on the side of the road, pretend its the Great Wall of China and walk on it! Or if your favourite song comes on the radio, get up and dance! Live, love, laugh, and eat a popsicle. Sincerely, Sam