Remember the first Dairy Queen run of the summer? Sitting outside with friends and family on the metal picnic tables - trying to eat your ice cream before it melts down your arm. Yum!! Oh the giggles and good times shared over ice cream. I suppose that's why it has it's own song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" When I hear the sound of the ice cream truck playing it's kicky tune it brings back memories of running to get my beloved push-up - parents were always close behind!
Little Julie/Water Baby!
Take a moment to sit back in your chair and remember all the things which lit up your life as a child, like fire flies! They are still magic no matter how you look at it. Remember lying on the grass looking up at the fluffy white clouds seeing shapes and pointing them out to your very best friend? Oh the days! Did you make whistles out of a single blade of grass? What made you utterly joyful as a child?
I grew up with a swimming pool in the backyard which was fantastic. All the kids played at our house and we could not be outside alone around the pool even though my brother, sister, and I were swimmers. Safety first. In my family full on water fights were a regular occurence. They started outside in the pool with all of us and our Dad. We would surprise attack Mom in the kitchen with water balloons and other water ammunition. How could she be upset with all three children giggling and her husband leading the band? She usually ended up getting thrown in the pool. The family dog even got involved. He was a yellow lab mix so it was heaven for him too!
Opening Day at The Doggy Pool
Later I learned that the reason my parents bought that house was for the pool. It was physical therapy for me. I swam long before I walked as I have a congenital spinal birth defect. Swimming kept me strong and active....and blissfully happy! I didn't even realize it was technically therapy I thought I was a dolphin. If you couldn't find me, I was swimming. In water, I didn't feel pain either. Plus I was competitive and swam at the township level. It was one thing I could do better than anyone. I always got first place, in my strokes, free and fly. Those were the days. My brother, sister and I would ride our bikes to swim team in the morning and back home to do chores and play then rode back for afternoon swim practice.
Being active is empowering and exhilarating. When I was young we would play line tag and who remembers freeze tag? We played kick ball - not my strong suit! All the neighborhood kids would play for hours, having peanut butter and jelly at each others' houses. Remember to do the things which make you utterly happy - the way you feel when you were little with an ice cream cone in hand licking it as quickly as possible before it melts. Get out with others and be true to yourself.
Playing With The Kiddos!
When we are true to ourselves we are more authentic and can truly share ourselves with others. Honor yourself. I challenge you to do just one thing you use to do when you were little and see how it feels. Play with your children. Get them outside to blow dandelions which have gone to seed and watch how the seeds disperse gently in the air. Let time stand still for a while by having fun. It's different for everyone.
I'm still on bed rest for a CSF leak since February so I'm unable to do the things which make me happy but when I get out of bed for some water, I look out the window and get a glimpse of some flowers blooming and sometimes the little ones from the corner are outside giggling as they walk their puppy. I take utter solace when I see the Eastern Blue Bird on the holly bushes we planted. They are magical and I believe good luck. I hold onto these moments for day dreams. I day dream about swimming, sailing with my husband, sitting out side eating, gardening, riding in the car with the windows down listening to my favorite song . Have fun. Do it for me too!
Engage all your senses and enjoy some fun inside or outside. Oh remember sunscreen too - something we did not do back in my day! Have a twist cone and sing the song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Remember to share these activities and happiness you gain with others. Happiness is contagious. All the moments in our lives is a book of memories, each told in a story of what makes you happy.
