inviting playfulness

Supportive, firm, slightly bumpy…

Smooth, almost silky…

Aaah—cool, soft, moist, and soothing…

Tickly, scratchy, stroking…

My bare feet delight in the textures they are taking in.

Each step a celebration of impressions.

It’s almost like my feet have little antennae attuned to each touch of the sole of my foot on the ground.

Delight, curiosity, wonder!

What will the next step bring?
Concrete—bumpy, gravelly, smooth?
Grass, clover, weeds?
Marble? (on a sidewalk, leftover from the construction of the State Capitol)
Wet or dry earth?

Each bringing its own impressions, my feet play with each one…

All around me, Summer also delights my eyes with a riot of color and texture.

• Yellow and orange ruffled marigolds
• Brilliant spotted and streaked, stately oriental lilies
• Friendly-faced, simple daisies
• Soft, pink and purple flowers of all kinds
• Sunny, yellow primrose and simple stella d’oro lilies
• Spikey yet gentle beebalm

Everywhere, flowers bloom forth, as if delighting in their own beauty.

And birdsong surrounds me—robins, cardinals, sparrows, finches, and more…

Mother Nature is my playground this morning—
my senses are awakened and aroused as I run and walk through her glory.

Even my body responds, reveling in the invitation to feel the lightness, the delight, the celebration in this summer full moon morning.

• I jog.
• I run, limbs flying with wild abandon as my inner child takes over.
• I prance and leap.
• I skip.
• And I slow back down to a walk.

I allow my body to delight and play with life all around me—through my feet, through my eyes, through my ears, through my core.

I read once that play was something we do for recreation only—not for practical purposes. This morning, I set out for practical purposes—to exercise my body and soul—and I discovered play!

So often I forget this—that playfulness can be part of my everyday life—slipping in to lighten up my serious, hard-working, responsible approach. That I feel happier, lighter, and even get more done when I allow my senses/my bodysoul to play.

If you’d like to explore how to lighten your day with a playful attitude, reveling in summer’s energy of celebration and lush fulfillment, consider joining me on August 2nd for The Way of the Happy Woman®: Summer Yoga, Meditation & Life Balance Mini-Retreat.

Or if you’re craving a deeper exploration of play-time, retreat-time, real contact with other women, beauty, and nourishment, consider joining Sara Avant Stover and a beautiful group of women in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for this year’s SHE Retreat from October 31st to November 7th! I’m happy to say I’ll be there assisting, too! YAY! 🙂

How do you invite playfulness into your daily life?
What practices or reminders do you have in place to invite delight?

I’d be happy to support you with my Women’s Holistic Health & Wellness Coaching.

And enjoy this playful NYC invitation!