At Play in the World: Nature I

Photo: Mountain trail - Montana (2018). Copyright SJPhotography

At Play in the World: Nature I

I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.

_Henry David Thoreau, “Henry David Thoreau Collection”

Imagination, play, creativity, and exploration are all important aspects of life, no matter your age or what you may be doing. For children - play is essential for building self-confidence, boosting creativity, developing social skills, promoting healthy physical development, and assisting with memory, and language. Indigenous cultures use game playing as a way to ready for life, hunting and gathering, becoming a warrior, developing physical strength and endurance, connection and social skills. However, for adults in the modern era play is often shunned as too immature or childish - unnecessary in relation to the aspects of day-to-day life and in conflict with our busy lives. But no matter who you are, play is an authentic part of each of us - no matter how young or old we are.

I believe play, imagination, creative expression, and nurturing our own sense of curiosity, awe, and wonder are extremely important to cultivate and build connection, and wholeness, and expands our inner and outer light. It is a healing of mind, body, heart, and soul that not only heals the self but heals the world.

We must be willing to open up to silliness, whimsy, and creative outlets that stretch our imagination, our thoughts and mind, and even our physical bodies and bring spaciousness to our hearts.

We must be willing to develop wings of limitless possibilities to expand beyond ourselves at times and remember who we truly are as powerful, infinite beings at play in this universe.

This is the first in a series on “At Play in the World.” Each installment will move into different areas of life, experiences, and how we can bring joy, laughter, play, and our infinite imagination into our lives. I start with “Nature” because it is where I escaped to find safety and play as a child - in the great outdoors, and continue to feel drawn to open my mind, and my heart and lose myself in nature’s endless mystery. Nature plays endlessly and so it is easy to find ways to play with and within its landscape. I have felt the deepest connections in nature - and find myself coming back to wholeness and belonging whenever I join in with nature’s wisdom and whimsy.