Play/Playful/Playing

​When I was in middle school, I wanted to paint a mural on the inside wall of our family’s garage. My parents asked me why I wanted to do it. I don’t remember my actual answers but I bet they were something like:

• It would be fun.
• It will look nice.
• I want to.

I do remember the word-for-word parental answer to my request: “When you get your own garage, you can paint a mural on it.” So, I did. In 1992 I painted a mural of the Hawaiian Islands on one of the walls in my garage.
Now 27 years later, I am painting another wall in my garage. Why? The exact same reasons I wanted to many years ago!

There are many studies that outline the importance of play just for play’s sake, but we don’t need studies. We just know that feeling when we are being playful for no other reason than because we want to do it. And yet, as adults we do not prioritize playfulness for ourselves. We encourage our kids to “put down your phone and go outside and play.” We carefully craft employee workshops and outings so it includes some time to “not be so serious.” Those are good but they are not the same things as moments of personal and spontaneous playfulness.

So…I went to Home Depot and picked up a gallon of ‘oops’ paint in Robin Egg Blue.

My intention for this wall evolved as I began and I listened to the soundtrack from The Greatest Showman while I painted. Lyrics like: “[Where the] impossible comes true. It’s takin’ over you.” and “The brightest colors fill my head, a million dreams are keeping me awake, I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see.” inspired me to make this wall a place of personal inspiration. It is what I see as I pull my car out each morning and what I see at the end of each day when I return home.

So this is my view:

1. Grounding myself in my family I see the tandem bike that I rode with my Grandfather. I was in back with my feet up until he asked, “Pam, are you pedaling?” My mom’s sled from when she was a girl. My grandpa’s license plate from the year I was born.
2. The election signs of people I admire and who did not let cultural and racial barriers stop their desire to serve in an elected office. (Remember the name Hadiya Afzal!)
3. And the poster of Muhammad Ali. This hung in my first office 20 years ago when my church was starting an afterschool program for area kids. This poster reminds me to trust my own instincts. At the time I knew nothing of white privilege and had no anti-racism training. I did know that heroes do not all look alike and that we need to make visible the heroes of all people, especially for our children.
   And…..Ali is inspiring all on his own!

So, what will you do to be playful today? Camp out tonight in your backyard? Make a new exotic recipe and share it with friends? Get out your kids’ Play-doe after they go to school?
These days it sometimes seems joy is hard to find. It is not. According to Glinda, it is as close as your own backyard. Enjoy your play!
~ Pam