Apr 13
Advocate for play
Why is it so hard to let go of the need to go go go?
Do you have that thing you do that you are probably by cultural standards a little too old to still be doing, but you just can't help yourself you just have to do it? It satisfies a craving you have to not be “on the clock”. Yet you feel guilty for indulging in it. You find yourself hiding in the bathroom closet yelling “I’ll be right out! JUST A MINUTE!” maybe just me.
I’m the type that if it is a temptation I need to remove it from my vicinity. So unfortunately for my family, I am a junk food minimalist, which is healthier for everyone anyhow. I am the same with games I do not entertain them on my phone because the call is too great. I am pretty good with social media but do get sucked into the scroll occasionally but I’m aware and working on it.
We recently downloaded a game on my boy's iPad Plants VS Zombies 2. I am obsessive with this game, all the weird zombies, challenging levels, the coins, the special events and I have no doubt the hypnotic swirl in the background has something to do with my addiction.
Over the weekend what started off as “teaching” my young boys how to play and strategize in the game turned into a P vs Z bing. A few comments from my husband, my internal nagging, and I made the announcement. “That's it I am deleting this game. I have no self-control!”
I was met with a look of amusement from my eight-year-old. “No you won't, you love this game.”
“Nope I have to delete it, I can’t stop playing it. I have better things to do with my time” I told him in my defeated responsible mom tone.
This comment was followed by a look of horror “No! Mom, you can’t delete it!” he says in an urgent tone.
“I have to buddy”
“No. You. Don’t.” He says with an authority that catches me off guard. “Grown-ups don't have any fun, all you do is work and work and work, where do you get your fun? You give us kids fun and don't leave yourself any fun. You cannot delete this game. Grown-ups need fun too!”
His comment makes me smile. 1. because who is going to argue with that logic. Grown-ups do need fun and 2. because I get to keep my game and 3. that my eight-year-old sees things that I forget to see.
Why is it so hard to turn off and have a little fun? What
Point why is it so hard for us to play? Why is there so much guilt in shutting off? Why does every moment of my day need to be productive and meet an end? All those things I think I have to do yesterday will still be there tomorrow.
For me, it just never feels like it (Life, home kids, cleaning, working, creating add another to-do item here) it is never-ending. Where do you draw the line? Where do you stop being a human doing and get to be a human be-ing?
I am grateful for my little human beings because they are constant reminders for me to continually learn from them, to stop trying to DO so much and just let life BE, let myself just BE, and enjoy the moment.
What is your guilty pleasure you don't make enough time for?
Hi, I’m Leah spelt Ligia, thanks for reading!
I am an artist, a writer, a speaker and an all-around lover of life and learning.
This is my journey into the world of following my creative dreams. I’m the author of “Living with Dirty Glasses” if you are ready to clean your life lenses and start creating the life of your dreams you can grab your downloadable workbook here.
Thank you for reading. This is my journey into the tumultuous world of following my creative dreams.
You’re welcome to join me for the ride (:
