In an unprecedented turn of events for this blog, I’m going to continue with a post from yesterday. The subject of playing, and play therapy, was the focus of my study and continues to be the framework for which I carry out most of what I do in life.

Playing keeps you healthy, happy and interested in the world. It also breaks down barriers between people and puts aside the imagined differences that separate us.

It may be difficult to re-enter into the world of playing after leaving it in your childhood. We hold a myth that playtime was for our younger selves and adult responsibilities must take over.

Yes, responsibilities need to take front and centre, but we don’t need to cut-off the playfulness in the process. If anything, we need to resign ourselves to playing when it becomes available.

We already do this in subtle ways through our pick-up leagues for sports, ultimate frisbee teams, camping adventures and the casual game of washer toss (horse shoes with washers) with friends in the backyard. Yet, there can be a feeling of guilt when doing so because, if we really think about it, there’s a sense of betraying our childhood.

Our childhood selves is telling us this used to be fun and what you enjoyed doing. What happened?

Indulge that voice and listen to it carefully. It’s trying to help you stay young and give you life. It’s telling you the obsession with cleanliness can be cast aside if there’s a chance to slide into second base, or roll down a dirt hill.

It’s telling you to go ahead and get dirty.