My Supports

Support, to me, is a force that keeps me going.  I have many different supports in my life, and they serve different purposes.  My first support is God...God is my foundation of life and continually blesses all aspects within.  My second support is my husband and family...they give me reason to go on when life gets hard or crazy.   My third support is myself and my values...these have been engrained in me throughout life by my experiences and have truly formed me and continue to be a driving force within.  

These are by no means, my only supports...they are just my major, life dependent ones.  I have work supports which include my colleagues and friends.  I have personal supports, like routines, time management skills, etc. I also have pleasurable supports such as my guinea pig, hobbies, and interests.  All of these supports keep my life harmonious.

Imagining my life without these supports is very disheartening.  I am at a stage in my life where life is good.  Of course there are the normal ups and downs, and it is by no means perfect...but it is progressing positively.  I credit my supports for this.  

My Connections to Play

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.”
― Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” -O. Fred Donaldson

The pictures  above represent the play  favorites of my childhood.  Barbie dolls, my kitchen play  set, and my bike were always my pastime doings.  My parents always encouraged my play as a child, and they allowed me the freedom to experience endless hours of fun.  I had my own play area where I could set up my playthings and play  continuously for days or months on end.  I was an only child, therefore, much of y play was solitary, but I remember that I was not lonely.  I do recall that much of my play was imaginative and I did talk to myself quite often (wow, does that mean I was "crazy"?Nah, I think I just had a rich imagination. )

Imagination leads me into my next topic.  Imagination is  what I believe is lacking  in play today.  So many things have evolved or changed that I believe that the imagination is being taken  out  of the toys.  For example, a traditional infant stacking ring set used to be made of just plastic colored rings that stack on a  post and go from large to small.  Nowadays, these stacking rigs light up and play music, plus lots of other bells and whistles.  Similarly, play has become very sedentary.  Children  would much rather sit in front of a video game than go out and ride bikes,  run  around, or even roller skate (no wonder childhood obesity is on the rise).  

Play is how children learn, but play does not stop with childhood.  Play is important and therapeutic to adults as well, or at least to me.  I need some me time to play...riding my bike, walking around  the park, crossword puzzles, crafting...it keeps my sanity.  As  adults, we should take heed to the benefits in the act of playing.  Life may be lighter and more enjoyable if we could all learn to play.