There’s a cute book for kids called: Everyone Poops.

It’s a picture book that shows how all different kinds of animals poop…

And that people poop too.

One way it’s used is to help little ones who are potty training be more okay with the idea of pooping.

Well, I think it’d be cool to have a book geared toward adults reminding us that:

Everyone Plays!

Yes, little kids play…

And animals play…

But so do adults!

Seems like play gets put on the back burner after we enter the working world…

Or start a family…

Or get in a relationship…

Or hit a certain age that ends in ZERO, right?

We get “serious” about stuff and then sometimes forget what it’s even like to be:

• Silly
• Light-hearted
• Goofy
• Creative
• Care-free
• Fun
• Uncensored

As if being those things would be:

• Irresponsible
• Immature
• Dumb
• Distracting
• Self-indulgent
• Embarrassing

So those words in that last list above (and the fear of them) keep us from taking care of ourselves by giving ourselves PLAY.

Something that all mammals do…

Something that helps us relieve stress and refill our energy…

And actually…

When you avoid play, it’s like holding in your poop.

That sure doesn’t feel good right?

When you gotta poop, you gotta poop.

If you get constipated it hurts and is very uncomfortable.

Well, when we don’t PLAY and let that energy out, it hurts us in different ways..

We can get:

• Crabby
• Irritable
• Depressed
• Impatient
• Angry
• Frustrated

But if we let our need for PLAY come out…

It helps us stay in flow and not be so emotionally constipated.

So…

Keep your play energy flowing…

Use fun activities as your “laxative” to make sure your emotions keep running smoothly.

And just like you make sure that you have time to poop regularly…

Extend the same courtesy to yourself and make sure that you give yourself time to play regularly too.

When you get busy, busy, busy with work and family stuff…

Sometimes you wind up not giving yourself any playtime.

I’m not talking about just play like hanging out in a sandbox…

(Though of course you could do that too…)

But PLAY can be anything that rejuvenates you and helps you feel more alive.

Here some ideas:

• Watching a comedy.
• Going for a walk with your dog or your best friend.
• Playing frisbee.
• Swinging on a park swing.
• Journaling on a park bench.
• Playing solitaire.
• Calling a friend.
• Coloring mandalas.
• Making cookies.
• Having a picnic in your front yard.

Whatever it is that you choose to do for play, it should meet these criteria:

- Is it fun?

If you don’t have fun doing it, then it’s not really play.

For instance – maybe walking your dog feels more like a chore than something fun to do.

If that’s the case, then don’t consider it part of your PLAY.

- Is it special?

Whatever you do for play should feel special and unique. It should be like a treat!

A trip to the zoo maybe. Or a stroll through a book store looking at magazines and new releases.

Make sure it your PLAY activity feels like a privilege that you get to do it…

Like, “Oh boy!”

- Does it make you smile?

This one is important.

:)

When I worked at Blockbuster when I was in high school, our store owner told us to make sure that we smiled and said hello to every single customer who walked in.

Why?

Because he said that we might be the only smile that person sees all day!

Even though I was only 17, I could understand the power of what he was saying.

Some people can go ALL DAY without  seeing other people smile…and maybe don’t even smile themselves.

So the more opportunities for smiling – the better.

If your PLAY activity doesn’t make you smile, then why would you do it?

Instead, ask yourself:

“What WOULD make me smile right now?”

Then see if you can give that to yourself.

So…

What are your favorite ways to play?

The things that are fun, special, and make you smile when you do them?

And how can you do one of those things with yourself today – even if it’s just for 2 minutes?

(So far today, I’ve gone down to the beach, played hacky sack in the sand, and scurried along the waves like a tiny sandpiper bird trying not to get wet. It was fun, special, and I was smiling and laughing a lot too. And I feel so much better about starting my day.)