My 70th Post!
Life sometimes spontaneously takes me by surprise. And if I can play with it—well that is the
best kind of play. Yesterday was that
kind of day for me.
Yesterday was a school day—one of those busy, go from one
activity to another without much down time in-between kind of days. No down time means no think time so I was
just going about doing my thing, knowing that until 9:00 that night the pace would
be quick and the down time would be zero (I teach a grad class on Monday
nights). I also knew that to grade and
prepare for my Thursday night grad class, and to do my commitment toward March
blogging, I would be up very late on Tuesday and Wednesday. No time for play…even though I am writing
about it every day.
I am accepting of that reality. I am not happy about the pace right now, but
I made choices, all good, that are creating that pace through May. I am being playful about the pace. I know that play is an attitude that goes
beyond time and busyness. And I would be
fooling myself not to understand that play cannot be sustained with this
pace. It can’t live and be cultivated in
a new way when time is not devoted to it.
Back to my story...I was leaving work and a co-worker
said that tomorrow would likely be a snow day.
I listened and laughed about how I would wear my PJ’s inside out and do
a little snow dance before I went to bed, but seriously didn’t ponder the
possibility. I live in upstate-NY and we
are a rugged bunch when it comes to snow days.
We can get a foot of snow and it is cleaned up in an hour. So, putting my PJ’s on inside out and doing a
little snow dance doesn’t carry a lot of power.
Off I went to my grad class.
The day was actually a 50 degree, balmy Rochester day. The thought of snow was just a whisper. I went from one busy, go from one activity to
another as I arrived to teach grad students about reading and writing through
their practicum experience. Into the
evening a student began to announce the different schools that were closed the
next day. Unexpectedly, spontaneously,
my school was announced. I was giddy
with happiness. I was given an
unexpected gift of time.
At class end, I walked out into the 50 degree evening doing
a little happy dance. Who knows what the
weather will be tomorrow. I do know
that I have been given some time. Time
to catch up. Time to play. Time for spontaneous connection. As I
went to bed that night, in celebration, I put my PJ’s on inside out and
followed up my happy dance with a snow dance.
Life is good. Tonight I
sleep. Tomorrow I play.
Sometimes that’s all that is needed for spontaneity is
time. And time can be planned or
sometimes—with the help of weather is a gift.
PLAY-TITUDE #11: Spontaneity is play’s companion. Grab it whenever you can!
Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for dedicating space and time for writers and teachers of writing to
come together to share ideas, practice and life experience.
The difference a bit of warm weather makes! It sounds as though you have so much on your plate - but finding time to play is something your soul needs!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara. Nothing like a snow day to slow me down. We were walloped. My guess is by morning we will have 25 inches.
DeleteYour word is forming your slices so nicely. Is it helping with writer's block? I hope you enjoyed your day. When I was off last week for Mardi Gras, I spent hours reading and writing comments. Wish I had that kind of time every day.
ReplyDeleteMy word has been a beacon to guide me this year. And the words are spilling out of me--stories, poetry, essay. Not sure if it is the word or just being in the groove. Regardless, I welcome them.
DeleteTwenty-five inches? Whoa Nelly! I hope you had a great day playing!
ReplyDelete