Friday, August 21, 2009

Like a child



Hello there! This is Ms. Jenn from {Bits of Beauty}, pleasure to meet you. I've been thinking quite a bit lately about how children behave, especially how they play. Most of us have nostalgia for our childhood, mostly because we were carefree, uninhibited, and playful. We had FUN! When was the last time you played like that? As grown-ups, we try too hard and make things more difficult for ourselves. Why? It doesn't have to be that way. I want you to practice playing. I've given you 8 suggestions below. {Feel free to add your own in the comments section.} It'll make you feel better, I promise.



{Blow bubbles} Is there anyone who doesn't enjoy blowing bubbles? It's easy and cheap. You can do it anywhere, so pick up a bottle the next time you're at the store. I'm going to do this with my son this weekend. I wonder who can blow a bigger bubble.



{Run} I don't mean running for exercise. I'm talking about that break-neck run you did when you were a kid; the one where you just took off until you couldn't breathe.



{Jump} I don't know if it's because we're afraid of looking silly or that someone might see all the jiggly bits in movement, but we all really need to get over it. Jump, leap, skip, bounce.



{Get dirty} I'm not sure where along the line we get so squeamish, but it gets in the way of our having fun.



{Swing} I'm not quite sure this one needs any explanation. There's a reason they sell swinging seats and gliders at patio stores. The movement is soothing. When you're on a real swing it can be soothing or exhilarating. Find a playground. Find a tree and some rope. Just get moving.



{Take bubble baths} Grab some Mr. Bubble and go for it. I know you've missed sculpting bubble beards and towers on your head. No bathtub? If you've got a backyard, might I suggest a wading pool filled with bubbles?



{Art} Do you remember what it was like to open a brand new box of crayola crayons? How often did you just get lost for hours finishing a picture? We're all so busy and obsessed with managing our time. Enough already! Get crayons, glue, scissors, construction paper, fingerpaint, watercolor, a camera, and make something. Don't pay attention to how long it will take. Who cares? So what if it's a mess. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be fun.



{Climb} I never really climbed trees as a child, but I did climb just about everything else. I did climb up a tree a few months ago while apple picking in NY. It gets harder as you get older, but it's still just as fun. So if you can, climb something and sit up there for a bit!

I hope you enjoy your weekend! Come visit me sometime.

Photos {via} 1. amalia chimera 2. Julia Davis 3. hairspiration 4. serenity 5. paperlilies 6. champagne kisses 7. black cigarette 8. plastic nico 9. end of march

15 comments:

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

I love this post! I always feel like a kid when I go for a walk, run, or hike in the rain. It invigorates me and reminds me of when I was little. I didn't want to go inside, no matter what the weather...

Also, how about building a sandcastle?

Melissa said...

What a great post. Sometime we need to be reminded of the simple things that bring us pleasure. Thanks again!

Unknown said...

hi jenn
love your blog and also love your guest post here. the crayons part brought back memories!
thanks for sharin, kat x

Anonymous said...

Swim in a kitty pool!

Sierra said...

I want to run, jump, and plan! It would be like when I was a little girl again. Have a lovely weekend.

Shell said...

Great list, Ms. Jenn. Now, it makes me want to go and run outside with abandon.

Brian Miller said...

great post. somewhere along the way we tend to lose that art of play...sad really...having two boys they teach me a lot on the subject. have a great weekend...and go play.

Darrah said...

I'm really glad you posted on this. I was playing with my nieces yesterday, and it's so refreshing to be brought into their world of imagination. My boyfriend always tells me how childish I am... but I'll take that as a compliment for now. Youthful innocence and imagination is integral in this life.

Terri said...

I've already competed three activities on this list this afternoon. On our afternoon walk, I RAN into a muddle puddle, JUMPED up and down to splash my husband, and the end results: we were both DIRTY, as it's been raining in Alabama for several days. We are about to be grandparents, so we have to brush up on our child-likeness. God Bless!

Donna said...

Hi Jenn, Hi Tina,
I just found you through puglyfeet and I love this post about play - great photos and ideas & you certainly had me waxing nostalgic with the Mr. Bubble mention - I could use a groovy new iridescent hairdo right about now! I will look forward to visiting you all again real soon!

Paresh said...

Thanks a lot for such great ideas, seemingly simple yet sure to refresh body and soul !

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post! Blowing bubbles is my absolute favourite, I'm always incredibly jealous when I see a little kid blowing bubbles, I want to blow bubbles too! And I have to admit, the swing in our garden still gets some use from time to time... :)

Anonymous said...

How lovely to read about everything I used to do and like as a child! I want to be that girl again!

Thanks for this dear :)

Katie Palmer said...

I love this!! I'm only 19 and these things seem so distant already. Thanks for the memories and encouragement to get out and have fun!

Mama Ruck said...

Not to long ago I was climbing a plum tree. I had a ladder there to pick the fruit, but I insisted that climbing in the middle of tree was where the best fruit was. Truthfully, it was just more fun!