How Much Pleasure And Play Are You Missing Since You Became A Grownup?

Andy and I went out into the Banff mountains (near Calgary, in Canada) a few weekends ago and visited Johnson Lake. The lake is still iced over, but it was relatively thin ice, so there were wonderful things going on …

Now I know that, being South African, ice and snow are probably still a novelty for me, but when last did you play with ice and snow?

For 2 hours we lost track of time and explored, experimented and played with all the different textures of ice and snow and water. We were totally mesmerized! We could see bubbles of air beneath the ice and we found that we could tap on the ice with sticks and move the bubbles around and split them up and watch them dance under the ice.

I stood on the shore and had an overwhelming urge to crack the ice like it was creme brulee, so we found some sticks and we cracked the ice with the sticks. The sound and the texture of cracking ice is just too beautiful and totally addictive!

Then we started throwing ice shards and sticks and stones across the ice, trying all sorts of different landings. We slid them, we bounced them and we smashed them, and with every throw, we watched and listened to the sounds and shapes and textures they made. The ice gave them a beautiful, full, resonant sound, like a bell or a flute. We slid the stones out and listened to the hum as they slid across the ice, holding onto the sound as long as we could, as it faded into the distance. And we’d try to see who could make the longest sound.

Then we threw handfuls of snow on the ice and watched it fall so silently and gently and softly in contrast to the hard ice. And we watched the little grains of snow as they spread out and slid across the ice, making a really soft whisper sound.

I could have played all day and still not gotten bored. (I think I may be an Eskimo!)

On the way home, in the car, Andy and I, elated, chatted about how good it felt – how calming and clearing and energizing and fun it was. And how we realized that we don’t often do this sort of thing, because we’re so busy doing grown up stuff. Like work. And making dinner. And cleaning up. And handling social politics. And planning and thinking about money and collecting information.

We’re so over-entertained and live such sanitized lives, what with all the media we take in (and we don’t even have a TV!) and the way we’re all so removed from nature inside our cities and houses, that we often forget how much free entertainment and pleasure and stimulation is sitting right there in front of us, in the form of our natural environment.

How much pleasure and play are we missing out on everyday?

When last did you notice just how cool some of the natural stuff around you is?

When last did you let yourself get fascinated with something that wasn’t demanding your attention?

When last did you lose yourself in experimentation, and full multi-sensory engagement, watching and listening closely and taking in all the simple, subtle little sounds and textures and colors, and feel your body become totally present and alive?

And when will you go do that again?

Reminder: Lock in the low monthly rate for yourself at the Bottom-line Bookclub before 5pm MST today

This is just a brief reminder for those of you who are sitting on the fence… the Bottom-line Bookclub prices are going up 50% at 5pm MST today (8 June). If you want to lock in the current low price for yourself even after it goes up for everyone else, then grab your membership before 5pm MST today (8 June).