In my present situation, work is the byword. My amateur radio friends "work" the air waves. Another friend with workout in the gym or work with a trainer. The knitters work on a project. I've done most of things on your list and they have kept me "alive" since I retired from employment. I try to avoid calling anything I do "work" because the very word defines our attitudes. Your article really hits it, stressing the importance to change our vocabulary from work to play. Why can't we give ourselves permission to play? It's so destructive. My SIL has made a life as well as a living focusing on the concept of "purpose." She laments that her husband's dementia has taken away his purpose. All he wants to do is sit and watch TV or movies. So let him! That's his purpose now. But how do I tell her that. She knows everything. Just ask her.
It truly is. Luckily, I only see her during infrequent visits that only last a few hours. She does tend to drain one's energy despite her own Energizer-Bunny level. whew!
Last weekend my volunteer buddy and I were working in the park & found ourselves near the magnificent, historic carousel. We hadn't ridden it in decades....we went in! Up & down, singing lustily to the accompanying seasonal songs. I can't tell you how lighthearted I felt for days afterward. Play on, people!
This substack article caught my eye. I'm known as The Play Lady. In March 2009 I had founded a play committee where I live in Takoma Park, Maryland adjacent to Washington, DC. I wanted to bring fun free play opportunities to my community. The nonprofit KaBOOM.org was naming cities A Playful City USA. Our little committee unanimously agreed to apply and plan a Play Day. That summer we were named A Playful City USA and for nine straight years till the program ended. September 26, 2009 we held our first Play Day, it was a whopping success. Our Recreation Director snapped my photo of me showing a little guy how to hit a sponge ball over the net. The Director shared this photo with our Takoma Park Newsletter that comes out once a month. November 2009 on the cover this photo appeared with my photo and a write-up about the Play Day. Shortly after the paper came out a man called me. He asked, "Are you Pat Rumbaugh?" I said, "Yes." He then replied, "You are the Play Lady." I laughed. This man and his wife were moving and wanted to donated a bunch of play equipment to me. When I met them they did not share their names. I asked for their address so I could write them a thank you note. The man said that wasn't necessary. I told them I was raised that you wrote someone a thank you when they did something for you. So I asked the man, "what can I do to thank you?" He responded, "keep doing what you are doing." 2014 our play committee became the nonprofit letsplayamerica.org and I'm still doing what I was doing then, encouraging people to play. Mr. Akchin playing saves us. If you would like to know more about my play story feel free to email me, theplaylady@gmail.com otherwise I hope you will keep playing.
"Get down on the floor and play with the children." I had to laugh—my great-granddaughter got me there for the first time in about 25 years. We have such fun, but oh, that getting up is something else. My knees complain loudly. She also wants me to run with her—she takes me by the hand and says, "Run, GG (great grandma) run." And we do - up and down the hallway - laughing all the way. What a gift!
Ten of us played a word game (comes in a box, don't know the name of it) on Thanksgiving. It was brilliantly simple and required zero skill. Everyone enjoyed it.
Mine, too. Sometimes I think I'm supposed to want to do something more active or more creative but, truth be told, anything with words has always been a delight.
In my present situation, work is the byword. My amateur radio friends "work" the air waves. Another friend with workout in the gym or work with a trainer. The knitters work on a project. I've done most of things on your list and they have kept me "alive" since I retired from employment. I try to avoid calling anything I do "work" because the very word defines our attitudes. Your article really hits it, stressing the importance to change our vocabulary from work to play. Why can't we give ourselves permission to play? It's so destructive. My SIL has made a life as well as a living focusing on the concept of "purpose." She laments that her husband's dementia has taken away his purpose. All he wants to do is sit and watch TV or movies. So let him! That's his purpose now. But how do I tell her that. She knows everything. Just ask her.
Sue, thanks for these reflections on work and play. As for SIL, why try to inform someone who knows it all? Sounds like a waste of good energy.
It truly is. Luckily, I only see her during infrequent visits that only last a few hours. She does tend to drain one's energy despite her own Energizer-Bunny level. whew!
Last weekend my volunteer buddy and I were working in the park & found ourselves near the magnificent, historic carousel. We hadn't ridden it in decades....we went in! Up & down, singing lustily to the accompanying seasonal songs. I can't tell you how lighthearted I felt for days afterward. Play on, people!
That’s the spirit, Wendl!
This substack article caught my eye. I'm known as The Play Lady. In March 2009 I had founded a play committee where I live in Takoma Park, Maryland adjacent to Washington, DC. I wanted to bring fun free play opportunities to my community. The nonprofit KaBOOM.org was naming cities A Playful City USA. Our little committee unanimously agreed to apply and plan a Play Day. That summer we were named A Playful City USA and for nine straight years till the program ended. September 26, 2009 we held our first Play Day, it was a whopping success. Our Recreation Director snapped my photo of me showing a little guy how to hit a sponge ball over the net. The Director shared this photo with our Takoma Park Newsletter that comes out once a month. November 2009 on the cover this photo appeared with my photo and a write-up about the Play Day. Shortly after the paper came out a man called me. He asked, "Are you Pat Rumbaugh?" I said, "Yes." He then replied, "You are the Play Lady." I laughed. This man and his wife were moving and wanted to donated a bunch of play equipment to me. When I met them they did not share their names. I asked for their address so I could write them a thank you note. The man said that wasn't necessary. I told them I was raised that you wrote someone a thank you when they did something for you. So I asked the man, "what can I do to thank you?" He responded, "keep doing what you are doing." 2014 our play committee became the nonprofit letsplayamerica.org and I'm still doing what I was doing then, encouraging people to play. Mr. Akchin playing saves us. If you would like to know more about my play story feel free to email me, theplaylady@gmail.com otherwise I hope you will keep playing.
Thank you, Ms. Play Lady, for sharing your story and giving solid testimony to the value of good play.
Don’t forget computer games!
Yes of course! How silly of me to forget.
"Get down on the floor and play with the children." I had to laugh—my great-granddaughter got me there for the first time in about 25 years. We have such fun, but oh, that getting up is something else. My knees complain loudly. She also wants me to run with her—she takes me by the hand and says, "Run, GG (great grandma) run." And we do - up and down the hallway - laughing all the way. What a gift!
Janice, I’m impressed that you got down AND got up! Good for you! Children have so much to teach us.
Hi Don, They certainly do, and this 2-and-a-half-year-old has taught me so much. It is amazing and so very special to have this relationship with her.
Good stuff!
Thanks, Wayne!
Ten of us played a word game (comes in a box, don't know the name of it) on Thanksgiving. It was brilliantly simple and required zero skill. Everyone enjoyed it.
Susie, wordplay is my favorite kind of play.
Mine, too. Sometimes I think I'm supposed to want to do something more active or more creative but, truth be told, anything with words has always been a delight.