Welcome to this week’s issue of Weekly Wellness Wisdom!

What’s New from Centered Living

This fall I’ll be offering a series of tele-classes designed to enlighten and educate about Authentic Wellness.  I’m very excited to be introducing powerful ideas and strategies for becoming more centered, authentic and joyful.  Please stay tuned for more details in the weeks to come.

Weekly Wellness Wisdom is on its new weekly schedule.  Every Saturday you will receive the latest issue.  If for any reason, you don’t receive your weekly email, please email me at lori@loriboothroyd.com and we’ll help. 

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Wellness Wisdom Feature Article

The Power of Play

Do you tell yourself that you don’t have time to play, or that you’re too old for playtime, or that there is no point in play?  We all use these excuses sometimes, but mostly we’re just rationalizing the fact that we are missing and longing for Playtime!  Read on for some reasons why play is so important and how to get started reconnecting with your playful side.

What is the power of play?  For one thing, it allows us to have fun, laugh, connect with others, and reconnect to our most authentic selves.  Play is an essential component of any wellness practice.  Just consider the word “Recreation” for a moment:  This word describes play, and literally references the process of “re-creating”.  When we play (engage in recreation) we are re-creating our best selves.  And having a blast doing it! 

Playtime serves as an easy and fun way to buffer and minimize the negative impacts of stress.  Physical play helps us to release muscle tension, shift our brain chemistry, and soothe our nervous system, thereby elevating mood and feelings of well-being.  Laughing as we play further relaxes and soothes us.  The tough times don’t feel so bad after a “serious” play session!  Play, laughter and silliness also raise our levels of creativity and sense of connection with others.  If you return to a challenging problem after a play session, you will discover innovative solutions that weren’t accessible to you before.  Play-time has the power to shift, delight, enliven and lift our spirits. 

And, through the impact of play, not only are we more relaxed but we also experience greater energy and feelings of joy.  Play creates a calm energy, a focus we can then redirect to our other endeavors, but with a lighter heart and a clearer mind. 

These are just a few of the many physical, emotional and psychological benefits of play. If you are prone to being serious, like me, it sometimes helps to know the purpose and benefits of play.  If you aren’t so concerned about the “value” of play, then just do it for the fun of it! 

Are you stumped by how to begin playing?  As adults, many of us have forgotten.  What did you have fun doing when you were a kid?  Take a moment and jot down what was fun and made you laugh.  Your list might include ideas like the following (which I’m also offering as suggestions to get you started): 

• Bike-riding (just for fun and not to burn calories, imagine that!)
• Fishing  
• Playing games with other kids
• Running up and down sand dunes
• Swimming
• Hopscotch
• Hula-hooping 
• Blowing bubbles
• Drawing pictures
• Watching bugs (one of my personal favorites)
• Playing with animal companions (my #1 favorite)
• Laughing and being silly for no reason whatsoever!
• What else can you add?

My request to you this week is to choose a playful activity and schedule a play session in your calendar.  Would you like a playmate?  Or would you rather play on your own?  What would you like to do?  What feels easily available to you?  What would make you laugh and be silly? 

Engage in the Power of Play!

Personal Reflections

“Savoring Silliness”

The theme of being playful and having fun came to me repeatedly this last week.  My clients, friends and family members were all mentioning their need and wish for more play in their lives.  Something about the high summer season is probably stored in our deepest memories of playful, carefree summers as kids.  Is it no wonder that we are thinking of and longing for play? 

Those who know me best would probably not describe me as very playful.  That is the truth.  I tend to be more serious when left to my own devices.  Because of this tendency, I am deeply amazed by the positive impact of play in my life – when I choose it.  Fortunately I married a playful, silly person who almost without fail makes me laugh every day.  My cats also thrive on a good play session and they will have me giggling in no time.  I just have to stop and pay attention to these moments when they are offered to me.  Sometimes I do have to coax myself a little… and then, thankfully, the silliness shows up.  Strangely enough, all of my “serious” work still gets done…

Last weekend I attended a large parade event in our hometown.  This is not generally something I would do, but our little niece was a “cherry princess” and had her own float.  So of course I wouldn’t miss that!   What I hadn’t anticipated by attending the parade was all the opportunity for silliness, for play and for laughter.  I laughed at clowns going by, the crazy cars, outrageous costumes and the fun comments made by onlookers.  I also saw the wonderment and delight on the faces of all the children who were there. There were hula-hoops whirling, bubbles in the air, whistles and bells, bright colors, and loud music!  What I remember most were all the huge smiles, the giggling and the giddiness of it all.  It was truly magical – because of the power of play! 

I’m certainly going to play more often and truly hope all of you will join me!

To your wellness,
Lori

About Lori

Dr. Lori Boothroyd is known as the “Coaching Psychologist”. She has served her clients and students well over the years through integrating her knowledge from earning a Ph.D. in psychology, as well as her advanced training in coaching and wellness psychology. Appreciated for her warmth and down-to-earth style as much as her expertise, Lori is a dynamic speaker, author and coach. She lives in Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, Dr. Gregory Boothroyd.

For a complimentary coaching consult, to inquire about programs or to ask any questions, please email: lori@loriboothroyd.com