Karl's Blog: Play, Today

I've just returned from a wonderful holiday in Thailand.

It's my first proper holiday for about two years and, boy, was I ready for some extended time and space to simply relax and have fun.

While I was out there exploring the beautiful landscape, I started to think about how easy it is to live each day with spontaneity when you're a child. In fact, for most children, play time and adventure are second nature ... having fun is what life's all about.

Then we start to grow older.

It's only when we take on adult responsibilities ...the serious stuff such as career, job, mortgage, relationships and so on ... that we risk losing touch with what it means to play.

As adults, we're expected to grow-up ... act our age ... take life seriously.

If we're not careful, we can forget what it means to have fun.

But being able to play ... using our natural tendency to be creative, be spontaneous, explore, whoop it up, and enjoy ... is one of the greatest gifts of life.

Play time isn't just for kids.

There's nothing in the 'rule book' to say it is.

It really doesn't matter whether you're eight or eighty ... making time to play is absolutely essential for well-being.

I make a point of including play time into my life as much as possible ... and I don't wait for a holiday to come round to do so.

What does it matter if I jump up and down and run around crazily just for the sheer joy of it?

Who cares if I take a few hours out to enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of adventure?

Every day should include some play time ... a chance to reconnect with the child within ... to have fun and be frivolous and spontaneous.

Play time makes you feel vibrant ... diminishes the stresses in life ... and provides a tangible sense of well-being.

So give it a try!

Take some time out today and play! It'll make the world of difference!