25 Oct Talking to Animals
LEARNING FROM CHILDREN AND OTHER ADULTS:
ADDING SPONTANIETY, CREATIVITY AND PLAYFULNESS TO YOUR LIFE
Imagine doing the following list of activities and check any you will try now.
Walk in the rain
Explore nature in the woods; identify new flowers/trees/plants
Smell flowers (if you don’t have allergies)
Blow bubbles
Get sidetracked with something that truly engages you
Build castles or other things in the sand
Watch the stars and moon come out
Watch the sun come up
Smile at strangers
___ Have a conversation with someone at a check-out line
Sing in the shower or anywhere else that strikes your fancy
Read children’s books to yourself or others, out loud with gusto
Take bubble baths
Act silly
Hold hands with someone you like
Hug someone you care about spontaneously
Say what you really think
Say you feel scared, happy, sad or anything else when you feel it
Complain when something hurts
Ask whatever questions pop into your mind or admit ignorance
Ride a bicycle – the one in the basement or borrow one
Draw pictures without being concerned about how “good” they are
Talk with animals
Have day dreams
Stay up late
Sleep late
Take naps, especially 30 minutes or less in the early afternoon
Dawdle
Play with nondigital toys
Have pillow fights
Learn about anything that intrigues you
Appreciate you don’t have to be serious to be taken seriously
Explore your body
Be a clown
Find out how something works
Celebrate anything for the fun of it
___ Enjoy an open-ended conversation over a meal with a good friend
___ Have a costume party that’s not on Halloween
___ Do anything safe you’re been anxious about doing; give it 15 minutes to start
___ Ask for assistance and offer it, as appropriate
© 2023 by Ruth M. Schimel, Ph.D., Career & Life Management Consultant, Author www.ruthschimel.com 202.659.1772 ruth@ruthschimel.com
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