Is play a part of your life?
During the earliest and worst chapter of my chronic illness journey, I wondered (and an abnormal MRI result reinforced my questioning), “Am I dying of some serious illness? Or will the stress of chronic illness shorten my lifespan in the long run?” I began reading books about death and dying to comfort myself in my fear and learned that when people are dying, one of the most important reflections is about whether they enjoyed life. Although I have chronic and not life threatening health conditions, this experience radically changed me, and I set out to make play and enjoyment of life a top priority.
Play, for me, includes fun activities, like swinging or going down slides at a playground or playing games, as well as finding delight and enjoyment even in small moments in life. Some folks may be facing into the experience of death and dying or acute illness that makes high energy play inaccessible.
Even micromoments of joy, delight, contentment, and excitement are regulating for the nervous system, creating more safety in the body, connection to self and others, and more wellness, including reduced inflammation, deeper breath, and lower heartrate and blood pressure.
Over time those micromoments add up and create new neural pathways in the brain that support healing from trauma and health issues. In other words, play can be powerful medicine for transformation and wellness.
Play may not be at the top of your to do list today. Right now might be a moment of fear or a season of outrage or grief instead. And I’m not suggesting striving for perfection as if play is an achievement. Instead, prioritizing play is more like a commitment to a way of living over the long run. I’m reminded of lines from this Mary Oliver poem:
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
So let me ask you, “How are you enjoying this life? And if enjoyment doesn’t feel feasible right now, how do you want to enjoy this life in the future?
I currently have openings in my coaching practice and here are my upcoming groups. I offer pay-what-you-can scholarships prioritizing BIPOC and Trans folks.
Somatic Transformation Group for People With Chronic Illness and/or Pain
Thursdays, Sept 5- Nov 14, 5-6:30pm PT
Weekly 10 session group covers topics including our relationship with the body, moving from isolation to connection, finding aliveness in midst of illness, grief and despair, resilience, and compassion.
Nervous System Regulation for Healing: A Somatic Practice Group
Wednesdays, Sept 11 - Nov 20, 5:30-7pm PT
Weekly 10 session group covers topics including building awareness of Fight/Flight/Freeze/Appease/Dissociate states, practices for regulating your nervous system, building safety and connection in the body, co-regulation, resilience, etc
To sign up or get more information about my groups or coaching, book a free consult with me today.
