Dancing like a ballerina in our living room, as a little girl, I was unencumbered and free. I just moved my body with the rhythm of the music and flowed naturally across the room. I knew my beauty; and it wasn't a conscious, forced thought. I didn't stop and ask myself, "Am I beautiful?" Instead, I just knew. I felt pretty and, therefore, I was. With a huge smile on my face, I would pirouette in pure celebration of the sounds.
Playing games outside all day with my friends, I ran wild and free. We played kick the can and basketball. I knew I was strong; and it wasn't a conscious thought. I just knew. Running to tag someone or dribble the basketball or sprinting for no reason at all, I just played for the pure purpose of playing; it wasn't "working" out with the goal of losing weight.
As a little girl, life was very simple. Playing for hours with no concept of time until the dinner bell rang allowed my imagination to run wild with creative ideas. Aside from school, I was free of living according to strict schedules and free of rushing to get to the next thing, and I still lived a full and fulfilled life. Every moment was brand new as a child.
When was the last time something felt brand new? Have you crushed the spirit of the little girl inside you? When was the last time you danced freely? When was the last time you ran in a field just to run? When was the last time you moved your body just for the fun of it?
When did life get so complicated and hard?
"The tragedy of life is not in the fact of death, but in what dies inside us while we live." Norman Cousins
Is your freedom and innocence hiding? This is how you find it ...
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: Live young and take a recess!
Today, you will take a recess and live young. Webster's Dictionary defines recess as, "a temporary withdrawal from or halting as of work, business, or study."
As you may remember from your childhood, many children became a tad wound-up and quite cranky from being in the classroom. You may have been one of them. Even if you were not, it is easy to agree that everyone benefited from recessthe children were more balanced when they returned, which kept the teachers sane. Now, just in case your recess experiences were not ideal, such as being terrorized by the pressure of foursquare, do you at least agree that it provided a welcomed break from classroom responsibilities?
So what does all this mean for you? It means that taking recess can be done in the middle of the workday for you to let go of all the grown-up responsibilities, get out of the office, unwind, and reconnect to the little girl in you. As a bonus, like the teachers, your coworkers and friends will benefit from you taking time for you and blowing off a little (or a lot of) steam.
Watching the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, I heard a heartfelt quotation, "Never lose your childhood innocence." What were you like as a child? Are you willing to embrace your innocence and curiosity and freedom again? How will you do that? What does that look and feel like to you? How does the little girl inside you want to play?
Does the little girl in you want to dance? If so, go to a local thrift shop and buy a tutu and twirl to your heart's content. Or, attend an African dance class. Dance, little girl, dance! Maybe you have an urge to create art, but the perfectionist in you hasn't allowed you to take that coveted art class. Call the local community college today and give them your credit card number. Paint, sketch, sculpt, or make a ceramic mug. Buy a Mickey Mouse coloring book and go to town! Simply allow the creative child in you to breathe.
Do you have an impulse to run through a field of daisies rather than like a hamster on the treadmill? Find a field and frolic through it. If you're afraid the local farmer will chase you with a shotgun, just go to the park and race like a wild child. Do you remember the Friends episode where Phoebe and Rachel went jogging in Central Park? Phoebe started running and spastically throwing her arms around and squealing like a gleeful child. Rachel thought she was insane, until she tried it, and loved it! Be carefree! Imagine whom you could inspire today with your youthful exuberance!
Your assignment is to create that fresh, giddy feeling again today. Put on your old cheerleading outfit, put your hair in pigtailsdo whatever it takes. We are not going to allow life to be habitual, old, and boring! We are young today!
Maybe this assignment requires you do something completely new. Maybe you have negative memories attached to your childhood. What childhood experiences were you denied? Did you miss out on amusement parks growing up? A roller-coaster ride could do the trick; they even have one in Vegas. Go to Vegas! No access to a roller coaster? What do you have access to? Do your neighbors have a trampoline? Call the neighbors and ask to jump and romp.
If your inner child is still digging her heels and refusing to come out, go someplace that would be fun for her. Where would that be? Make believe ...
For more "recess" ideas, go to www.TashaTheLoveCoach.com and click on the pretty pink box to access 1000 Dating Ideas and have more fun in your life!