Things move and groove

Stay wondering who’s who

Like Blue’s Clue

Find out through what you do

Activity reveals the hidden pieces…

Consistency keeps the score

Discourse reveals what’s within our doors

Our minds, labyrinths made to be cracked

Like an egg-shell, it pops on the floor

Showing that all of us are meant to explore

Go ahead and vigilantly implore

To see what we are all made for!

Play is the Way

Siphoning through the airport of Manila, I see once again how simple (and powerful) the force of play is. It’s this special glue that brings us all together – no matter what age.

This theme sprouted multiple times within a very small time frame of a couple layover hours while traveling. I met this cool Vancouver-based-world-traveler momma Elsie at a café while both of us awaiting 5 hour+ layovers (in a hot ass airport I might add)! We shared many laughs (and ideas) with each other on a whim during the busiest time of the day. One of the glue-pieces that stuck during this short split was a game she coined “Slippery Gary.” This game is basically a group-party game where each person writes the most embarrassing scenarios imaginable, then they are ranked by most-to-least embarrassing. Authentic, goofy, funny, and most importantly – creative. An example for a scenario she mentioned is: your with a group of friends fighting over who pays the tab for a dinner – and after a long quarrel – you decide to pick it up but your credit card gets declined! OOF. What would you rank that in embarrassment scale?

This was the piece that made the whole conversation feel so fun, light, and engaging. What’s even more profound is the actual conversation about playing was playful in itself. Isn’t this interesting? It’s as if play beckons more play – which lightens the whole room and builds rapport with others in a truly unique (and powerful) way! Yes, we shared ideas – but we were also having FUN doing so – just pure, calm, connection. Now I can’t wait to bring this game out for my brother’s bachelor party! Who knew a stranger at the Manilla airport would bring such bountiful fruit in the most unexpected way?

Another authentic instance of play was right after Elsie – where I took a breather and reset, dialing into some relaxation. I stopped at a bench on the side of the walking-terminal-pathway. There, I saw the cutest lil curious Filipino girl (4-5 yrs old) who was looking very, very BORED. I caught her eye, and started playing peek-a-boo, and she reciprocated immediately – in a very cute, shy fashion. After this for a bit, she started hopping like a lil rabbit on the square cuts within the carpet. She had no siblings or play-mates, so I decided to be one. I imitated her with a simple HOP, and she loved it! Her grandma was telling her to calm down… yet when I hopped again the lil girl followed with a giggle and even the grandma laughed! Her playful spirit was infectious as another elderly man was smiling adjacent to her – another kind reminder that all of us want this playful energy around us – even “in the waiting room.”

I’ll take it further – I’d argue we all NEED play now more than ever. You ever flown internationally, or just been in a crowded space?! Yeah, it’s absolute chaos. The world has ballooned in population – it’s hotter, faster, crowded, and (public spaces) are used up much much more. So yeah – this is why we need a breather (a touch of play, baby)!

So when you’re in a public space like a farmers market, retail store, music venue, graduation/ceremony, seminar, etc. – look to engage some PLAY. Think up some games that you can share with others (remember iSpy)?! Anything works – because like I said earlier – people are hungry to engage something light and fun. What will this simple action open up? Who knows. And when you don’t know, that’s exactly when you DO that thang.

Weekly Prompt (Like Lifting Weights, but for your brain):

When has play helped you in finding connection, peace, or prosperity? In what ways do you think you can apply it more to your day-to-day life?

Report:

Conditions

Sunrise 6:18 AM

Sunset 7:51 PM

Moonrise 12:40 PM

Moonset 2:45 AM

Air Quality GOOD

Fire Danger Moderate

INTEGRITY SIDENOTE: ALL PHOTOS ARE ORIGINAL (from my camera), and NO WRITING/TEXT IS AI-GENERATED OR (even edited) BY AI.