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Sam Messersmith's avatar

Totally here for the play vibes. I may play with my husband's Lego tomorrow. He taught me it's Lego not Legos. Ya know, like deer not deers 😆

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

That’s too funny, Sam. And now I’ve learned something new! Thanks for that - and for being here. Have fun with the Lego!

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Sam Messersmith's avatar

Thanks, my husband and I just finished up playing with Lego. It was actually fun! I forgot I got myself the Dots thing. Those pieces are so small, but it is fun to play with.

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

That’s so awesome. 🤩

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Sam Messersmith's avatar

Thanks for the reminders to play! I want to ask why it’s so hard, but I think you’ve gone over that once or twice. 😂

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

I’m not sure it ever gets easier, but I’m gonna keep trying!

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Sam Messersmith's avatar

Ok then, I will too!

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Alexander Lovell, PhD's avatar

It's heartbreaking that play has become a 'luxury' that so many of us can't afford. Our society's obsession with productivity and the 'bottom line' has created a play deficit that's harming us all. We're so focused on 'doing' that we've forgotten how to simply 'be.' And the consequences are clear: burnout, anxiety, and a disconnection from our own hearts and souls.

I'm really digging the play theme you are writing on right now.

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Christina Patterson's avatar

I really love this piece, Jamie. I often think about how important it is to play in the way you describe, but find it so hard to give myself the permission to do it. As you say, it couldn't be more important. Thank you for reminding me. xx

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Im pretty sure that makes us birds of a feather, Christina. You already know my dirty little secret - that I give advice I don’t take. 😁 But I’m hopeful that just acknowledging the need for play will help me take steps toward making time for it in my life. Going to work on that today, actually. Wish me luck! 💜

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Christina Patterson's avatar

I do wish you luck. You are brilliant! Xx

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Lyns McCracken's avatar

This is what I needed. I need to read this all year long, maybe for the rest of my life! Thank you for giving us permission to play. I think it may set us free but if it doesn’t, at least life won’t be a total drag while we’re here.

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Thanks, Lyns. I need to read it too! I was just telling some friends that I don't know where I get off giving this advice when I mostly suck at following it. 😆

I think writing about it helps me drive the point home to myself.

And I agree - let's not let life be a drag!

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Lyns McCracken's avatar

We are doing our gd best ok?? 😄

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Liz Husebye Hartmann's avatar

Transformation, or slowly inhaling & taking a breath to allow transformation to occur around us. I like that thought: to be!

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Ooh ... allowing transformation to occur around us. That's intriguing. Thanks for that, and I'd love if you'd say more.

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Liz Husebye Hartmann's avatar

Ummm...holding space for others (people & things) by making space in ourselves and our auras?

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Lovely. 🥰

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Claire Thomas's avatar

Bravo!

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

💜 😊 💜

Thank you, Claire. xo

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I need to read this about 3 more times. It's so good. I realize that I feel like a good part of my day IS play. I have fun doing what I do. My business on Substack, and of course, the WRITING! That's me, allowing myself to play. That's me, allowing myself to be who I am meant to be, after a lifetime of fear about taking risks, exposing my truth, and maybe failing at it. My mom asked me the other day what I do for fun. I answered, "I live my life. My life is fun." It wasn't always that way, not by a long shot. Transformation can happen. I do a lot of the same things as an adult that I enjoyed as a kid. Quiet, art, reading, writing, and occasional meet-ups with friends. Life is good, even in the midst of chaos, because I've made a commitment to my well-being. I never had an imaginary friend when I was a kid. I tried to conjure one, but it just felt silly to me! That kind of imagination always escaped me! Thanks for another great post, Jamie. xo

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Nan. I can feel your enthusiasm through the screen, and it warms my heart.😊 I love this: "allowing myself to be who I am meant to be" <-- That's the crux of the thing, isn't it? And I think that's exactly what play allows us to do ... be fully ourselves without any inhibitions or expectations. Thanks for sharing that, and good on you for creating a life that is fun. That's quite an accomplishment!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thanks, Jamie! xo

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Jess Greenwood's avatar

I knew it would be worth the wait. 😉 We're now on to Day 4 of no school thanks to snowmageddon. I wish I could say I've enjoyed all the play, but the stress of having to do the things during the play has sucked some of the joy out of it. I've also realized I draw a blank when asked to come up with the game or activity myself. If it doesn't involve my computer, a chore, or cooking, I'm woefully unprepared to engage my imagination in a new activity. All this to say, I concur. We need play more than ever. And not just on snow days, although that's a good start. I, for one, have to figure out how to play again, but just that ignites a creative part of my brain that isn't present when I'm folding laundry or doing our budget. I feel a fort coming on today...blankets and pillows and turrets and all! And I'm going to absolve myself of the guilt of taking time away from all the things to do it.

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SuddenlyJamie's avatar

Thank you, Jess. And thanks for sharing!

I totally understand feeling challenged to come up with games and activities from scratch. I have - like you - become somewhat estranged from my imagination ... too much time spent focused on my to-do list has sapped my ability to slip easily into play. As you say, it's something we have to figure out - to relearn.

I love that you feel a fort coming on! And I love even more that you've decided to absolve yourself of any guilt about it. When my daughter was young and home sick from school, I would always set myself up for failure by trying to be the caretaking mom AND the freelance writer. At the same time. I always ended up sucking at both roles and having major regrets at the end of the day. I learned (eventually) to - as much as possible - just give myself over to one or the other (and my priority was always my daughter). It's a tough juggling act. Some days are easier than others.

Happy fort building!

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Jess Greenwood's avatar

It's the "AND" that's the problem, right? None of us are really equipped to do AND well, and so we ultimately end up feeling like we're failing at BOTH. Right now, she is happily snuggled under a blanket while watching tv until I get some work done, and then I am going to happily unplug and shut my computer, leave my phone upstairs, and go build a fort. I have to give myself the gift of being fully present with her and with play or its never going to happen. As weird as it sounds, I need to be intentional about play until it can again become unintentional and intuitive. Not there yet...but I've got a bunch of couch cushions and blankets saying it's going to be a valiant attempt!

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