The Summer I Embraced Play

And just like that, another summer vacation has come to a close and we are back to school, schedules and earlier bedtimes. This summer, I set a goal to honour my 12-year-old self by inviting in more play as often as possible.

Daily adult life can often feel heavy with responsibilities, from work and finances to relationships and the weight of what’s happening in the world. Along the way, the magic of play can become something we feel like we need to earn, or something that’s “just for kids.” I set out to change that for myself because life is also about finding enjoyment in the mundane, everyday moments.

I reconnected with parts of myself that feel like the most aligned version of me. I painted my nails multiple colours like Skittles, got crafty with bracelets and art, pulled a daily tarot card with my incense burning, wore bright colours and embraced bangs. We watched sunsets, skipped rocks, played games and read books.

What I learned by inviting in joyful play was that it helped me enjoy the life I actually have, here and now.

Being present sounds like such a simple thing, but it can be hard work, especially when we spend so much of life on autopilot. I went to the mental gym of connecting more often with what was right in front of me and trusting that I would get to the rest after this.

What made this summer extra special was that it was also my daughter’s 12th summer. I felt inspired by her fluidity, moving from soccer schedules to dancing in her room to getting crafty while watching Golden Girls. What a gift to embrace and honour my own inner 12-year-old while hanging out with my daughter.

This summer felt like magic, not because the stress, fear or anxiety of life disappeared, but because I started leaning into the daily magic that was already around me instead of waiting to feel joy. I’m learning and practicing that joy doesn’t need everything else to go away first. It can coexist with stress. Play can exist alongside responsibility. Presence can happen even when there is still more on the to-do list.

Maybe reconnecting with yourself doesn’t always have to be serious work. Maybe sometimes it looks like simple shifts such as colourful nails, friendship bracelets, watching the sunset, reading a book, dancing and singing in your room or doing something your 12-year-old self would have absolutely loved.

So, as we move back into schedules, routines and everything that comes with fall, I’m bringing her with me. And maybe you can ask yourself too:

If your 12-year-old self were here with you now, what would they ask you to embrace again?

Your very human therapist,

Danielle