Allow Yourself Time to Play

All of us can easily rhyme off a list of things we need to do, should do, have to do...but what if someone asked you what you want to do? Would your answer include one thing, or a few things?

That want to list is probably shorter but it rarely gets checked off. We put everything else ahead of what our soul wants to do. So instead of feeding our soul, we suppress it and essentially tell ourselves we're not allowed to do what we want until...

Well, that's no way to live. What if until never comes? What if today was your last alive? Even without getting that dramatic, at the end of the day are you satisfied or do you experience regrets? Do you wish you would have just...?

I know there have been many days, I've been guilty of these types of regrets. But, life is too short, and it's meant to be about the journey, about meeting new people, making new friends, feeding your soul. Follow wherever the prodding takes you. Stop making excuses for not doing them. 

Feed your soul first, follow your truth, and the rest will fall into place. In fact, if you take the time to do what you want to do, I bet you'll accomplish even more of the have to-do list. You'll be invigorated and recharged to face these responsibilities.

I have promised myself to do just this, and so far, I'm a much happier and fulfilled person. I'm also going to reserve every weekend just for "play" whether that be going out with friends or reading in my backyard, basically whatever moves me in the moment. I promise to enjoy life more "outside of the box," meaning my computer and take time out for my soul.

Letting Go

One of the hardest things in this life is the balancing of priorities with our dreams and desires. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can let go and allow ourselves to be. We are ultimately the sole deciding factor in life’s equation. 

Yes, there are times when things happen in our lives outside our control. We feel pulled this way and that, like we are a piece of fabric blowing in the wind, but what if our life lesson in this moment is to learn to let go? To go with the flow? To follow the prodding of our heart and soul?

There will be many excuses, maybe even valid obligations that prevent you from doing what would ultimately feed your soul, but you have to take advantage of the nudges you feel to follow your soul’s path. This is for your healing, your discovery, your ultimate wellbeing.

You know what? It’s okay to surrender, it’s okay to drop things and go off last minute if you are following a direction the Universe is pointing you in. When you do, this is when miracles happen. You uncover your truth, your purpose, your divine path—and you’re the only one that can live yours for you.

Embrace your inner beauty, your magnetic draw to a place, person, thing, or hobby. You are being pulled to your destination for a goal. You might not even know what that is, but trust me, it will be made known in time.

I follow my own advice. I’m writing this article from my sister’s great room, what she has labeled her healing room. I do give it that ability. The energy and the beautiful surroundings, the wind singing in the trees resonates through every fiber in my being, lifting me up to a more spiritual plane of existence.  And I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for following an inner nudge. You see, going back 48 hours I didn’t even know I would be here. I booked train tickets last minute to come down, but I had been mentioning coming here for weeks. It built up inside me to the point where I could no longer ignore the prompting of the Universe.

Now, I’m here? I know that it was my purpose at this point in my life. It reminded both myself and my sister that, you know what, it’s okay to slow down a bit, take life as it comes, exist in the now. This is my first morning waking up here and it’s not even noon and I’ve experienced enlightenment and healing.

I feel completely blessed that I am even but a visitor, and welcome guest in her home and to her property. Nature holds the key to healing, to taking the blur of our lives and slowing it down to a frame-by-frame snapshot. You don’t always get that ability in the city. There’s the hurried pace of making a living, traffic, and distraction with media. Yet, with this said, even when surrounded by the beauty of nature, one can allow themselves to become deviated from their course if they are not careful.  We all need to remember to breathe, to follow our inner nudges. Trust me, even from this experience so far, this getaway is exactly what my soul needed.

Remembering to Play

As a grown-up, we tend to get all caught up in our to-do lists.  I’ve found out, as you probably have, that the to-do list is never finished.  It might change a little from day to day, but it is never gone.

The list generally holds all the need to and should do items.  It may even hold some want to, but usually they are at the bottom of the list.  When the day’s list is long, they are the first to get ignored.  The responsibilities take over and I have been known to take life and myself too seriously.

On my healing journey, although taking time to honor, love and forgive myself is important, it can sometimes feel like serious work.  What about the time to be silly, to set these things aside, to laugh and play?  Where does that come in?  I remember that doing things I enjoy - just for the sake of enjoying it - is so important!  When I do them, they actually assist me on my healing journey.  These things need to get bumped up on my list!

Many wise teachers have suggested to “be like the little children.”  So what does that mean?  Child-like wonder is amazing to witness.  The look on the faces of children who are seeing something for the first time is priceless.  Their eyes are big and bright.  They are jumping, hopping and skipping without fear of judgement.   They make new friends everywhere they go.  They are playful and in the moment.  They are free!  They are shining souls!

There are lots of things I consider play; exploring in nature, finding special rocks, dancing in my living room with my sweetheart.  Additionally, reading, writing, painting, drawing and collages are great ways to be in the playful state of child-like wonder and joy.  They even make the list from time to time, as I am remembering the value of play.

For me, I get the most joy when playing with bubbles.  I like to marvel at all the sizes and colors; the way they pop fast or the way they become translucent and hang around for a while when I send them love.  In the state of play, I forget my big, adult list and problems for a time.   It is as if they were carried away inside the bubble and banished into nothingness.  Blowing bubbles with friends is even more fun, as you witness the childlike joy on each other’s faces. In these moments we are free!  We are shining souls!

~ Sherry Buikema