Let’s Play (published in The Rag 1998)
By Gwynne Hunt
Have you forgotten how to play? Spend time with yourself? If you are always wrapped up in work, family, obligations, social engagements and don’t take time for your self you will suffer from what psychologists call ‘privacy deprivation syndrome’.
I’m not joking. This is a diagnosed condition and symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, depression and even resentment. I know a few people who are suffering from this. Their lives are so busy they forget to take time for themselves; to play, think and just be.
I try to spend at least an hour a day in some kind of reflection; journal writing, sitting and gazing out at the lake alone, reading or meditating. When I don’t take time to this, after a few days I am crabby and resentful at everyone who is stealing my time. I’m so lucky that I am able to spend this time every day, because I know a lot of women can’t. So what can they do, if they don’t have an hour a day?
Start small; take ten minutes. On your lunch break instead of catching up on office gossip go for a walk alone, bird watch. Make a promise to yourself that your lunch break will not be a time to run errands. Try to organize your life on your days off so you don’t have to run around during your lunch time.
Learn to say no when people ask you to this party or that gathering. Do your children really have to go to someone’s birthday party every week, do you have to visit your mother every Sunday and so on . . . make your alone time a priority. When your girlfriend phones and begs you to come to her candle party and you’ve already have been to four and have enough candles to start a monastery, say, “no, thanks’. Play isn’t about being sociable and filling your time off with racing from event to event.
Solitude and play are about being good to you. Once you find the alone time and have a routine of journaling, meditating and just relaxing you can move on to other fun things to do alone, like play. Start by making a list of the ten things you liked to do when you were little. I tried that and came up with some cool stuff I had forgotten about; like I loved to play marbles, collect rocks, play with cut outs and run or just go for a walk.
I guess that’s why collecting stones and crystals is one of the things I love now, and cutting out magazine pictures for collage work, or going for a walk. I even run once in awhile when I’m with the grandkids. After you have your list of ten, dig a little deeper. What were your favorite games, books, movies, singer or musical group? Spend an afternoon watching old movies or listening to flashbacks from your teen years, painting your toenails and drinking pop.
Another list you should work on is the things you have not done in your life that you always wanted to do. Do you dream of being a stand-up comic, go sky diving?
It doesn’t mean you have to rush out and jump from an airplane to feel fulfilled but identifying lost dreams will help you focus on where you are going with your life now. Are there art projects you want to do? Writing you’ve dreamed of working on? For some women, home is more of a hobby then a place to live. You recognize that the minute you walk in. They are the ones who have cool framed photographs, they took. They have great wall hangings, they made.
Even if you are not good with your hands you can still have an artsy home that is a reflection of yourself. Display your collections, don’t hide them in boxes. Set your table with interesting, creative items you find at flea markets.
Whatever you discover when you start making your lists, don’t just make the lists, sigh and go back to work. It is never too late to be a kid and to play. If you loved the sand box, turn your coffee table into a Zen Garden-bring in white sand and use little rakes to play in the sand. Buy your favorite fruit and pack a picnic basket of cheese, fruit and sparkling water and head out for an hour’s walk. Leave the supper dishes; get up five minutes early to iron your suit in the morning . . . just go, by yourself to the nearest park.
Don’t wait to get sick to have time-out. That’s a lousy way to spend time alone. When you connect with yourself you won’t feel weepy or react in anger. You will be filled with peace.
Really like this post, thanks for writing.
That is a great, thanks a lot to post this.
Good work. I continually discover particularly one of a kind articles here on your site.
Dude.. I¡¯m not much into reading, but somehow I got to read many articles in your webpage. Its fantastic how interesting it is for me to visit you very often.
Very informative publish, love the way in which you write and I believe that the data helps in a way. I don’t usually say this, however I think this is a nice job done. For those who like to trade hyperlinks, I might be very happy to provide a link again to your site. Hope to listen to from you soon. Cheers
Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
I think this web site’s theme is done well.
For what its worth the info here has really gave me a new perspective on gardening!
Nice piece.
I think the stuff pointed out in your article is actually spot on. I have been doing early stage research relating to the topic and your piece has clarified a lot of questions I had.
I’m working on an dissertation aw well as a term paper for my English subject and began reading through a lot of internet blogs to study.
Oh also, liking your blog layout. I used to have a similar designed blog myself before I sold it.
Great post. Thanks!
I’m waiting for the store bought frozen lasagna to cook and I found your article. It’s a decent read. Thanks
Hi Website owner. I really enjoy the particular post along with your web site all in all! Your article is actually incredibly plainly written and also effortlessly understandable. The WordPress theme is wonderful as well! Would be good to know where My partner and i can acquire this. If possible hold up the very good job. We all require much more this sort of site owners such as you on the internet and also much fewer spammers. Fantastic friend!
You have a very great place here, excellent post and im happy i found it.
Very nice, blog I would say the specifics I found practical. I’ve saved it and will eventually visit all over again soon. Regards.
Dear friend. I truly love this article along with your webpage all in all! Your write-up is incredibly plainly written and very easily understandable. The WP design is awesome as well! Would definitely be awesome to learn where My partner and i can download it. Be sure to hold up the very good work. All of us require even more these web owners just like you on the internet and much fewer spammers. Excellent man!
Dear friend. My partner and i truly like the particular article along with the web page all in all! Your write-up is extremely clearly written as well as very easily understandable. The WP theme is wonderful as well! Would be great to learn exactly where I can get it. Please hold up the good job. All of us need far more these types of site owners like you on the net and much less spammers. Fantastic man!
Greetings. I only did some web surfing and found this blog site. I went by means of this web site publish and it’s actually incredible.I definitely actually appreciate your blog.Completely, the part of simply writing is in conviction the quite best on this definitely value although topic. I saved it and i’m hunting forward for your future internet site content. I also seen that your weblog has some very good leading accomplished to it. I will proper aside take hold of one’s rss feed to remain knowledgeable of any improvements. Remarkable info you obtained here.Remember to retain up-date in your good post.Best wishes.
Dear Site owner. I really like the writing along with the site all in all! The piece of writing is actually very plainly composed and without difficulty understandable. Your current WP design is great as well! Would definitely be great to know exactly where My partner and i can get that. Please hold up the very good work. All of us require a lot more such site owners like you on the web and also much fewer spammers. Excellent man!
I Too Like the Blog here. Keep up all the work. I too love to blog. This is great everyone sharing opinions
Hi mate. I really like that writing as well as your webpage all in all! Your article is incredibly plainly composed as well as effortlessly understandable. Your WordPress style is amazing as well! Would be fantastic to know where My partner and i can acquire this. If possible continue to keep up the good job. We all need a lot more these web masters like you on the internet and much fewer spammers. Wonderful mate!
I was really surprised this morning as I saw your blog post in my feed reader. This is precisely what I was looking for, I even forwarded this to my buddy. Later! Julia
Great Post. Thanks for sahring!!
Dear Webmaster. My partner and i seriously just like the writing along with your current webpage all in all! The piece of writing is very plainly written and also without difficulty understandable. Your WP theme is wonderful as well! Would be great to know where I can acquire that. Be sure to hold up the great job. We require more such site owners such as you on the web and much less spammers. Wonderful man!
I trust you would not mind if I placed a part of this site on my univeristy blog?
I was thinking regarding this just this morning…. and voila, I’m reading about it right now on your webpage. Coincidence or what?
hey, nice blog…really like it and added to bookmarks. keep up with good work
I just wrote a really long comment and the system couldn’t post it… Do you perhaps know why is this? Anyways not a bad post at all.
Thank you for sharing this blog post.
This blog fascinates me and is very nicely done.
great article. thanks \o/