Play
Photo by Robert Collins
““Play has the unique ability to suspend the brain in a youthful, flexible state”
Play was a path to redemption for me when I was attempting a phoenix-like rise from the ashes. From total emotional and physical burnout and a new PTSD diagnosis, the healing direction given to me was to begin doing some things that brought me joy. I was so far gone I could not remember joy nor imagine a path to it’s experience.
What I did was to reconstruct what brought me joy as a child. This amounted to art, flowers and horses. I began to explore these activities and did the “fake it ‘til you make it” approach. Slowly they took hold and I had glimpses of hope or more importantly at the time a break from despair.
To this day, the 3 play sources are the foundations of my functioning and a powering of resilience.
I remember back in my higher education days doing a certification in play therapy and sensing play was extraordinary in its power to express and heal...often non-verbally and always symbolically and creatively.
I expect play might offer a path for these difficult days of fear for many of us. It doesn’t have to cost anything except giving ourself permission, suspending negative judgement and time. I personally believe play is soul food...an unending source of sustenance. It is a shared blessing in grand parenting.
Children will lead the way!
