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233 Words About Why You Should Chase People With A Stick
“It is a happy talent to know how to play.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I walked by a playground tonight. Actually, i walk by playgrounds all of the time. But tonight, tonight was different. The weather was warmer and spring was sneaking its way into the air. I felt something physiologically. Somehow my soul knew i was rocking a pair of shorts.
And then i thought of this. The feeling. The flashback to when i was 10 years old. I remembered what it felt like to be “let loose” in a schoolyard when i was young. Just think about the concept behind that for a moment.
Your job is literally to play. Little Jacob. Big yard. *Go express yourself.*
So what would i do?
Run like hell. Chase kids with sticks. Bounce balls. Climb fences. Fuck around.
That was the whole point of playing. To go be yourself.
Do you have your own schoolyard experience from childhood? A place in time where your job was just to let yourself loose. To play. To express yourself. To get it outta’ your system.
My take on the topic is that we need more moments like those these days. Especially when we’re trapped in jobs, societies, and cultures where we’re ostracized for expressing ourselves authentically.
So the next time you get the opportunity to chase someone with a stick (in your own special way,) go for it! PLAY.
23 Responses to 233 Words About Why You Should Chase People With A Stick
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hiya vicky! I read your post and was wonderfully surprised to see number 11 (see my comment below, if it shows up by then) and totally resonate with number 45. The latter has been the story of my life ^___^
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Hey Chris, Thanks for checking out my site. I love Lego- in fact I think I would still enjoy fiddling about with it now :) and I guess I was always a curious child so asking questions- well, that's just me! :) but that's the thing- At some point we stop looking at the world with such innocent curiosity; We begin to look inside of ourselves- question ourselves, rather than simply accept who we are, gradually we lose trust in ourselves and then begin to look externally for our motivations and answers where we fall into the trap of validation and social comparison!
If only we could embrace our inner child more consistently- life would be so much more fun, experimental and free! :)
I check out your blog post and I love that you practice journalling- a subject close to my heart! xxx
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Awesome post Vicky. ASDKjhdfkjndmncjkasdhRJKNjefnjkdfnjkndfjkdfn… Here's to spontaneously switching it up!!
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LOL…I still get on the swings when we go to the park, play bb in the driveway with my son..I suck at it, and laugh my ass off, but then so do my kids. I've even attempted to teach myself how to rollerskate…at 40!!
Having fun, playing with free abandonment is exillerating…and important for balance. I am not afraid to make a fool of myself, even though I see the stares from other 'grown ups' while the kids laugh along with me…
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That's hilarious Dawn. You just brought out some old school memories of my mom shooting hoops with me in the backyard. As pretty of a lady as she is, her shot wasn't so much. Great times tho… Loving the playfulness -=)
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BOO-frekkin-YAH Jake! YES YES YES!!! Never underestimate the power of the playground. Man…remember recess? Wasn't that the greatest feeling in the world? Kids are people we shouldn't underestimate; they know secrets of life we forget as adulthood sets in.
Luckily I have a little sister who is just turning 11 this month. She doesn't know how to play the way my generation played, what with the world being as technologically-minded as it is now…but she has her moments. Those moments remind me how to be a kid again.
I own a pretty decent collection of Hot Wheels cars that I bring out from time to time…and not a day hardly goes by that I don't spend at least an hour building nothing in particular. It has become a form of meditation (that I highly recommend, by the way).
Another awesome point: play in the workplace. Rob Dyrdek, sponsored by D.C. skating shoes, has a full-sized skating park in his company's warehouse/office. He regularly takes time to skate, and play. Talk about the POWER of PLAY in action! *steps off of the soap box* Great post, dude.
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Chris, Love the passion here… I can feel it through the words! :) BIG GRIN!
I was playing Frisbee in the park last Sunday and it's amaaaaazing how more alive I feel when I let my inner child out to have some fun. Naturally in life I am a little impish and mischievous… that tends to spice things up a bit and make it more interesting… but there's always room for a little more fun!
Love the idea of THE POWER of PLAY!
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Elliot says:
This means a lot to me. I watch my nephew play and he plays…I mean REALLY plays!! He takes the yard and uses it ALL…with everything he has. Its incredible.
Me? I used to take the yard and just use a little bit of it…but it was my unique bit and after losing it for a long time, I found it again :) :)
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Jayne says:
Life is one big playground….we just need to give ourselves permission to let loose more often and have some fun! If I could be any age if I didn't know how old I was, I'd be 5! Well I am still a multiple of 5 so I'm happy with that!!!!
I'm off to play ;)
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Ah….PLAY!
I watch my boys PLAY with wild abandon. A stick transforms into a glowing light saber. An old rope morphs into Indiana Jones' whip. Rocks with sparkles are valuable "crystals" and a mere walk around the yard is a feast for the senses. As playful as I am, I'm still not getting my recommended daily allowance of sillyness and fun. Hmmmm….how can we structure more FUN and PLAY in our lives and make it a FUN*damental?-
More witty comments like this one sounds like a start.
I gotta' come kick it with your boys and they can show me a couple of things. But until then momma,
YO! Love the idea of a FUN*damental!!
Yes yes yes… FUN-4-DA-MENTAL.
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gunja says:
wow Jacob! it feels so good to be reminded of those wonderful moments of childhood…and equally sad,I guess…coz I have lost touch with it so long back,it didn't even occur to me to think of it before!
so, big Thanks for bringing me in touch with the child in me :)also, really love Vicky's idea of journalling…can't wait to bring some childish fun back to my life!
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Definitely Gunja – we've all lost touch with it a bit. Your most welcome and thanx so much for sharing. Let me know how it goes. I hope you find a *really* big stick.
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Hey Jacob… Interesting post…. I think as adults life can become veeeeery serious if we allow it to. I wrote about 'Embracing Your Inner Child' on my website because I feel it is something so valuable that we should always keep present and value. I have posted a link below in case anyone fancies checking it out:
http://www.livingkaizen.co.uk/Living_Kaizen/Blog/…
Much love… and enjoy playing in our vast world peeps!
Vicky
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