Play Clothes

I clearly remember sliding into the backseat of our ‘67 Oldsmobile to go Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a holiday meal. I always sat on the middle seat, sandwiched between my two older brothers. The vinyl seats would burn my legs in the summer and make my dress cling to my thick tights in the winter.

We wore dress clothes on arrival so our relatives could see us looking our finest. No one was comfortable in these stiff, constricting clothes, including the adults. It was some kind of social obligation on holidays that we all suffered through.

But then…the magical moment would arrive. Mom would say, “Okay, go change into your play clothes.” And we would run off quickly before she could change her mind.

As adults we lose our play clothes. Sure, we have our athleisure outfits to lounge or clean or run errands. But for the most part, we have lost that sacred moment when we get to strip off all our obligatory personae. We forget the joy of getting dirt on our knees and leaves stuck in our hair. We forget how to embrace the unscripted surprises of our imagination. We forget the limitless creativity of play.

Kim had a client recently who climbed a tree and log rolled down a hill during her session at Kim’s encouragement. The client later texted me to say that the experience helped her connect to happy childhood memories of playing in the woods. She went home feeling fulfilled and uplifted.*

Play is essential, not optional, for our lives. It may not solve every problem, but it unlocks something in us. Play expands our minds and soothes our aching hearts. It makes us feel the very best kind of tired.

Put on your play clothes.

Go outside.

Don’t grow up too soon.

*client story shared with permission