January 25, 2008

• Mental Health Day

  My friend COOL MARY, (who is fast becoming Scary Mary because she's been practicing her Scrabble technique and is seriously kicking my butt these days) has observed that many people seem to spend most of their at work time goofing off.  In fact, she speculates that for someone with a good work ethic (like her, or me or most of the people we hang out with) the amount that the average boss gets out of us is so much more than they get from the average worker, that someone like me, working from home, could handle two full time jobs and keep both companies happy because the employers would still get all they expect and more! 

  It's a good thought. 

  It led me to another thought.  For all that people goof off, surf the net, apply for other jobs on company time and the like ... I wonder whether we aren't just as guilty of "goofing off" on days that should be used for our mental health.  In this case, goofing off would consist of doing errands, housework, applying for other jobs on our own time, and other activities that prevent the very important work of play. 

  play [pley] noun  exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.

  What do you do for no other reason than that you enjoy doing it?  What provides you amusement?  What re-creates your passion, energy, and drive?

  Kids seem to know how to play without having to think about it too much.  But even kids have to learn how to play and for some it's harder than others.  Autism is one of those conditions that can impede a child's ability to play.  But even a kid with that kind of handicap can learn to plan, and so can you. 

  Kids at play will run, jump, stretch, reach, concentrate, study, imagine, discover ... laugh.  Genuine play makes you want to laugh. 

  Around here we play.  We read, we work jigsaw puzzles, we play board games, we take the camera and go "treasure hunting" for pictures to share with each other, we swim (when it's warmer), and we go to museums and art galleries to feed our souls.  We write poems, we sing, we listen to music.  We watch movies and talk about them.  We cook.  (Some of us get on the Internet and play Scrabble with a certain Scary Friend.)

  And we laugh and laugh and laugh. 

  The weekend is coming.  For your health, I hope you'll play. 

  Dance, sing, make-love, write a poem, blow bubbles off your balcony,  go for a bike ride, eat something you've never eaten before, paint something, and laugh.

   
                            

  I deposited another 2 square feet into the down-payment account today.  That brings my total square feet saved to 58 if you round up a little. 

  • 6:28 pm
  • 5 Comments