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Ali Leigh's avatar

This reminded me of Julia Baird's book 'Phosphorescence' which is a tale about awe and wonderment. A reminder to find that awe, playfulness, and wonderment in the daily.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Yes Ali! That is one of my favourite books of all time. Now you have reminded me, I will be interested to go back and see if she has anything to say directly about play - I can't recall off the top of my head. Have you read Bright Shining? I started a few months ago but obviously wasn't in the right frame of mind as it wasn't hitting right. I'll try again later in the year. xo

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Ali Leigh's avatar

I haven’t read Bright Shining. Interestingly it hasn’t jumped out at me to read in the way Phosphorescence did. 🙏 please let me know how you find it if you give it another go?!

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Will do! If it is good it will turn up in a cartoon sooner or later!

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Cherie's avatar

Gill my sister is currently completing her Masters in Play Therapy! It's a thing!! Kids play and then we stop... for many reasons... and it can have big implications for our development, sense of self, ability to learn etc etc.

I'm thinking of being one of her first clients! (Not sure my 49th year qualifies me!)

My glimmers:

~ Speaking with a loved one with firmness and compassion - first time in my life where I came away feeling like I said exactly what I wanted to say and didn't lose myself in the process.

~ Sitting around the fire each night.

~ Seeing my son and nephews and niece playing together with such love.

Love Cherie

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

How cool! Is the master for play therapy focusing on kids? While I think that is great, I think it is probably more needed for us 49 year olds (I turn 49 this year - I had to stop and work it out... how the heck did that happen!?). I'd love to hear your sister's thoughts on the application of play to the big world issues. I can see I've just found my next focus for reading. High-five for the boundaries. My daughter is struggling with the same this week. It is crazy she and I are learning the same thing 30 years apart. I'm glad I can help her navigate it at 16 rather than work it out by trial and error along the way. xo

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Betje's avatar

Oh beautiful cover indeed! And great message.

Every year, our family goes to a camping event with art workshops. The whole purpose is to play, whether it’s theatre or dancing or painting… It helps to not take myself so seriously and it doesn’t fail to teach me something profound. And every year, we (my husband and I) are a little afraid to go! It’s so out of our comfort zone! Not for the kids though, it’s their favorite week of the year.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

That is funny! each year, you go but are still a little afraid :). Probably a good indication of how as a society we have made play the realm of children only - our internal programming is hard to change!. It sounds like fun! xo

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Betje's avatar

Yes, I think as adults, we find it hard to deal with an uncertain outcome, while the whole point of 'play' is not knowing where you'll end up. I've been drawing professionally for over 20 years and putting pen to paper without much of a plan still scares me :)

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Sheri Roloff's avatar

This is beautiful, wonderful news! I really needed this message today. Thanks for sharing! ❤️

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Me too! Me too! Hope you are having a good day. What little bit of play did you find? I walked past a new stationery shop, browsed and bought a $1 sticker sheet of cute doggos and stuck them on my computer. I now have a pug wearing aviator glasses on a skateboard looking at me! My inner 7-year-old was thrilled at having the money to buy stickers and then using them, not saving them! If I hadn't been thinking about the possibilities of play, I would never have done that! I am way too serious to have dog stickers on my computer 🤣. xo

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Sheri Roloff's avatar

I love that you were able to channel your inner 7-year-old and USE the amazing stickers right away instead of saving them! I'm guilty of "saving" stickers too. Ugh, my adult brain makes no sense sometimes! I recently got a wood burning tool and have been playing with creating tiny scenes on slices of wood and it's been a tactile joy! ❤

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