Today is August 23, 2018 – (see August 23, 2018 on my Facebook page for video)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Jill a dull girl. I am driven by nature and I sometimes still have to remind myself to stop and play.
Last night I went out with my friend, Ghislaine. We took a walk along a canal and talked. She spoke to me in English so she could practice and I responded in French so I could practice too. It was a very pleasant walk. Afterward we decided to go to dinner at the lake. The first restaurant we went to was full, as was the second, but the third had a few tables that were free and a live guitarist who was singing. As we sat there taking in the magnificent view of the mountains and listening to the guitarist play and sing I was pulled into the relaxed atmosphere. I was completely absorbed in the moment and by the interplay between the guitarist and the audience. He was singing and strumming, and sometimes joking and the audience swayed, sang along and laughed. At several points during a well-known song the guitarist would stop singing altogether but the audience, who had already been singing along, carried on for him. It was a beautiful exchange of vibrant energy and aliveness. At one point I noticed the chef, through the kitchen window jamming to one of the songs too. It was an atmosphere that made me feel really connected and truly alive.
It’s these sorts of experiences, small, unremarkable, everyday on their surface that are enriching my life more and more every day as I allow myself to play hard and enjoy this journey called life.
I’m embracing the saying “work hard, play harder” because I’m seeing the benefits of play. The benefits are twofold: playing, truly enjoying life, is liberating for me. It gives me a sense of freedom that is so important for me to feel. But this play I’m noticing has an unforeseen benefit and that is it makes my work easier. When I’ve come up against a situation that I’m struggling to figure out, one that I seem to be forcing to solve, after I’ve played a bit and come back to the problem, the answer seems to be so much more obvious or I can see several other ways to approach it that I hadn’t thought of before. This play helps promote a creativity in me that makes life and work seem to flow. It is truly amazing.
So I’m curious, what activities or hobbies do you engage in outside of work that make you feel truly alive and that seem to make difficult situations in your work or life to flow more effortlessly. Please comment below.
That’s it for today. I’ll see you again tomorrow!
Patricia Brooks is a life experiences coach, speaker, and the author of Growing Bold: How to Overcome Fear, Build Confidence, and Love the Life you Live. She is the host of the Discovering Courage Podcast where each week she explores how ordinary people have managed to live extraordinary lives. Patricia is currently living in France, pursuing her dreams.
Photo Credit: Arthur Poulin