I received an invitation to a friend’s wedding, several weeks ago and was delighted when I read the words, ”Dress is casual. Wear your play clothes….” Over the past several years, I have been trying to remember, or maybe learn anew, how to play.
When I was visiting the ocean last week, I stood knee-high in the very cold water and watched a bunch of kids playing around me. They were all fully engaged in their games, so much so, that they did not notice the cold. I can remember as a child, my mother saying, “You have to come out of the water and warm up. Your lips are blue and you are shivering!” I also recall that I did not want to stop playing and wasn’t really aware of my body until my mother pointed it out. Being so cold, that I was turning blue and shivering, but not wanting to stop, sounds really foreign to me now. I can also remember driving home from the beach, after a full day of fun, feeling so good.
Just the thought of having clothes designated especially for play makes me smile. I may have to take another trip to the thrift store for the purpose of buying these special wedding duds. What would they look like? I think the look is not the point. They need to be so comfortable that I can forget about my body for a while. I need to be able to forget about my body so I can remember something deeper.
Lots of research is being done on the power of happiness, joy and play to heal both the body and mind. I bought the cd, The Power of Joy, by Dr. Christiane Northrup several years ago on a friend’s recommendation. It is absolutely wonderful; funny, insightful, inspiring (and inexpensive!). I cannot recommend it highly enough!
