💡 The Joy of Play (Issue 107)
Let the others grow old and cranky
I’ve noticed something as I’m growing older. The people who let go of play (or never enjoyed it) are aging faster than those of us who enjoy being playful.
I’m in my late 50s, so yes, I’m growing older. The gray in my hair and beard is a daily reminder. But the image of myself I hold in my head is younger. I still sometimes feel like that young adult who is trying to figure out what he’s going to be when he grows up.
I’ve been married for over 33 years, and my wife and I have raised our three children to adulthood. So no, I’m not some eternal Peter Pan bachelor who refused to grow up.
However, I am kind of weird and goofy.
I find humor in the strangest things.
I dance while I’m working out, and I sometimes dance in stores if the music is good.
I listen to all kinds of music, including some of my favorite old stuff from the 70s and 80s, but new music, too.
I joke around a lot, much to the chagrin of my family.
I have my costume ready for Halloween.
I love exploring the nearby forests, and I try to see the beauty of everyday moments.
I know part of this was only made possible by escaping the corporate rat race in 2010. It allowed me to rediscover myself and rekindle my love for life and the beauty of the world around me. I felt pretty old and tired when I was stuck in the daily grind of working for someone else.
However, I still see people with regular 9-5 jobs who have a zest for life. They smile and laugh often. They don’t let the world drag them down. And they play! They make time to play in their lives in different ways.
They are artists and bring the visions in their minds to life.
They are musicians and get lost in making beautiful music.
They are athletes and take joy in pushing their bodies.
They are explorers and love to travel the world.
They make time to play and enjoy playing games with friends.
Sometimes, people try to bring me down. They think doing fun and playful things at my age is silly. To heck with them! I’m tired of other people telling me how to live my life, especially when I now watch them aging faster than the rest of us who are still enjoying life.
So, ignore the cranky, stuffy people who are too uptight to have fun. Let them quickly grow old and sit around with a grumpy frown on their faces.
Those of us who embrace the joy of play will just keep feeling young in our hearts until the day we die!
I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.
