
It’s a choice.
What is it that you see just around the corner? Is it bad hair days or unfolding opportunities? Go ahead and dress up the grey if that's what feels good. The clock may say “quarter to senior” but deep inside the child within thrives.
Childhood memories are distant and faded. Piece by piece I gather them to create a likeness of what was. Today as I recalled forgotten days, I began to remember my favorite pastimes.
I was nine when we moved from the busy hub of California to the boondocks of Canada. As I entered the fourth grade, I found myself living on a forty acre farm. My school was but a two roomed school house much like the one on “Little House on the Prairie” (coincidently one of my favorite TV shows). Unlike Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family, mine didn’t grow much, just us kids, a couple of horses, dogs and some cats. A hobby farm for my scholarly parents, but for me it was a world to be explored.
Both the school playground and our farm were bordered by groves of trees. My fondest memories were bound in logs, rope and plywood tied to the trees. I was an explorer; adventures were mine for the making. With artisan’s tools as my toys, I built forts hidden within the woods.
It was Frontierland on the outside and Adventureland in the inside. I read with a voracious passion andI found myself lost deep between the lines of print, living others’ lives vicariously.
The rest of the time I was to be found on the back of my trust steeds: Pony, Tami and my hot pink “Banana-Bike”. My school was just down the way so I was able to ride my bike to school when the weather cooperated. If my brothers and I were looking for a longer adventure, we would make a beeline for the neighborhood store (about 10 km away).
In retrospect, it was a fertile farm of dreams. Lost at play, in Ever Ever Land the impossible became possible.
Why did I ever want to grow up?
As the years past, I found myself in a grown up world. Have you ever met those poor creatures of Busy Busy Land? There is no time ever to spare; work never ends.
Play? Absolutely not! There is still ever so much that needs to be done…
Neoteny is the retention of immature qualities into adulthood. Of all of the creatures to roam this planet, we are the most youthful, and flexible of all. This exceptional ability allows us to preserve our vitality while granting us the flexibility to adapt to the changing realities of our lives.
Game On!
Did you know that playtime is auspicious time?! The rewards of play are abundant and they include:
♦ Promoting health. Play induces laughter, releases tension, improves vascular health and lowers inflammation.
♦ Inciting creativity. Play activates pleasure centers which aid in problem solving.
♦ Creating movement. With play we suddenly become unstuck and are able to think outside of the box.
♦ Fostering mindfulness. There is only one place where we can find happiness and that is being 100% in the here and now.
♦ Connecting us. Play builds connections, love and a sense of belonging. Along the way play also lowers depression.
Once again I returned in high spirits from my bike ride. My hydration pack may have been running on empty but I was high on vitality, connected to the moment and in awe of my body: every breath in complete with happiness and delight.
A perfect combination of a hot summer ride, a cold dip in an ancient well and the power of the many of one was the force behind the solid bear hug of…
Another Beautiful Day!
If we don’t take time to play, we face a joyless life of rigidity, lacking in creativity. The opposite of play isn’t work, but depression. If we’re going to adapt to changing economic and personal circumstances the way that nature armed us to do, then we have to find ourselves having some play time virtually every day. ~ Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul
I am happy to report that it is possible to recreate and upgrade the familiar tastes of our youth (or in this case the youth of my husband). May I present you with a tastier and healthier version of rice pudding…
Rice Pudding – An upgraded version
Ingredients:
1 c whole cooked risotto rice
2 t coconut oil
¼ c coconut milk
1 T maple syrup
Pinch of salt
Topping:
Nuts to taste
Dried fruit to taste
Rice Preparation:
Soak rice overnight in warm water with a bit of apple cider vinegar.
The next day rinse the rice well.
Cook the rice in cold water (as you would cook pasta) at a low heat for about 15 minutes until the rice is ready (it should be cooked “Al Dente” or be firm to the bite).
Rice Pudding Preparation:
Pour all of the ingredients over the rice and top with nuts and dried fruit.
Bon Appétit!
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Thank you and have a great week!
If you call on me and I am not around, chances are that I am hard at play 🙂
Play is the work of a child and the greatest learning tool ~Piaget.
It continues to be important as a stress reducer and physical necessity as we grow older and, of course, wiser!
Thank you for reminding us all sweetheart❤️?