Rediscovering Play: Finding Your Way Back to Joy
I remember when I was a kid, I loved roller skating, riding my bike, playing hopscotch, jacks, jumping double dutch in the neighborhood, reading, and playing with Barbies—no particular order, just whatever brought joy in the moment.
I loved being outside, moving freely, my mind clear and focused only on fun. There were no intrusive thoughts, no heavy emotions—just presence, laughter, and play.
Then life happened.
School. Marriage. Family. Kids. Work. In that order, responsibility slowly replaced play. I became focused on taking care of everything and everyone else. Somewhere along the way, I stopped skating. I stopped riding my bike. I stopped playing. There was no one to jump double dutch with anymore, and my Barbies were long gone. And I know I’m not alone in this.
When I talk to people and ask, “What do you do just to take your mind off things? What are your hobbies?”—so many say they don’t have any. That answer is always surprising, but also deeply telling. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us disconnect from joy.
Why Play Still Matters
Play isn’t just for children—it’s essential for adults, too. Play helps with:
Emotional regulation
Stress relief
Creativity and problem-solving
Reconnection with self
Improving mood and reducing anxiety
When we engage in play, we give our minds permission to rest. We step out of survival mode and into a space of curiosity and freedom. Play allows us to feel light again—and that lightness is healing.
What Happened to Our Joy?
The truth is, many of us were never taught that joy deserved space in adulthood. Productivity became the priority. Rest felt earned. Play started to feel…unnecessary. But here’s the reality: constantly pouring into others without refilling yourself leads to burnout, resentment, and emotional exhaustion. Play is not a luxury. It’s maintenance for your mental and emotional well-being.
Relearning How to Play
It might feel unfamiliar at first. Even uncomfortable. You may think:
“I don’t have time.”
“That feels silly.”
“What’s the point?”
But the point is you.
Start small. Think back to what once made you feel alive:
Riding a bike
Dancing in your living room
Building model planes
Coloring or drawing
Listening to music and singing loudly
Lego fortress building
Reading for pleasure
Being outside without a destination
You don’t need a group to jump double dutch to reconnect with joy—you just need willingness.
A Gentle Invitation
This week, I invite you to do something you once loved. Not for productivity. Not for anyone else. Just for you. Even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Let yourself feel what it’s like to exist without pressure, even briefly.
Something to Reflect On
Ask yourself:
What did I love doing before life got so busy?
When was the last time I felt truly carefree?
What’s one small way I can reconnect with that feeling today?
Closing Thought
The child version of you still exists. Still curious…still joyful… still waiting for you to come back and play. You may not have Barbies anymore, and the neighborhood may not echo with double dutch rhymes—but joy didn’t disappear. It just got buried under responsibility.
Go find it.
And when you do—hold onto it like it matters.
Because it does.
Ready to find your way back to yourself?
Reclaiming your joy and setting down the weight of "everyone else first" is a journey you don’t have to take alone. If you’re feeling burnt out or disconnected, let’s work together to build a life that feels authentic and full again.
