Ever since completing my 365 Day Project – #365justbe – I have been craving doing another one! The project did wonders for creating a time and space in my day to be creative – even if it were just for 10 minutes – and I found that I missed that time when the project was over. It was a commitment, though, so I did not feel driven to do another one right away – but…the time has arrived, and I am ready for a new challenge!
I’ve decided to participate in Elle Luna’s #The100DayProject, which begins tomorrow, April 4th, and ends on July 12th. The main reason that I am motivated to participate this year, is due to the realization I’ve had over the last 1-2 months that I need to move from existing primarily in a head/thinking space to more of a heart/feeling space. My days seem to consist too much of either working, or thinking about work, or analyzing what I should do next with my life or Chapter Be, or wondering about X, Y, or Z. It is all think – think – think!
I have written in the past about my lifelong affliction of analysis paralysis, yet in doing some recent work around understanding my truest values (which I identified as beauty / connecting to others / creativity / freedom / fun), I came to see that they are actually all heart-centered, not head-centered. Therefore…I am about to embark on 100 days of embedding PLAY into my every day life. I feel like I have severely neglected the playful and silly part of my being and want to make the time to tap into that side of me. And – after all, at the very heart of BEING is feeling – not thinking.
Each day I will do something playful, and while I am doing it I will try and identify the feeling I am having while being playful. I will then turn that feeling into a BE Mantra (i.e. Be Silly) and post a picture with a post about my reflections on both the activity and my feelings while doing it. Hence – #100DaysofPlayfulBeing.
Here is where YOU come in! Below I have started to construct a list of playful activities, but am far from 100. If you happen to have any ideas of playful activities that you think I should do – or have found to be something that has evoked a playful spirit in you – please share in the comments below or on any of my #100DaysofPlayfulBeing posts on Instagram. Also, if you are participating in #The100DayProject, let me know, as I would love to follow along on your creative journey!
List of 100 Ways of Playful Being
- Dance class at Millennium Dance Complex – thinking the Adult Jazz Funk one!
- Rock climbing class at Denver Bouldering Club
- Pole dancing class with Bethany at Became the Dance
- Aerial Yoga at Atherial
- Letter and font photo walk – taking pictures of fonts and letters around town
- Fly a kite
- Spin class at CycleBar
- Glow sticks + long exposure photography
- Geocaching
- Taking an improv class at Voodoo Comedy Playhouse
- Cook a creative meal for friends (i.e. all finger foods, all the same color, etc.)
- Make one of the elaborate desserts that I only just look at on Pinterest
- Finger painting
- Finally go to the Museum of Nature & Science – perhaps create a walking guide of your favorite parts
- Call a friend you have not talked to in a LONG time
- Concert!
- Host a scavenger hunt
- Picnic at the Botanic Gardens
- Host a potluck dinner – perhaps with a theme!
- Karaoke at Voicebox
- Volunteer at a dog shelter
- Paint/draw the emotion(s) you are feeling that day
- Design a postcard and send to friends/family
- Leave BE messages around the city
- Color in your favorite coloring book
- Make a collage related to your favorite quote
- Write the narrative of a children’s book
- Self defense class
- African dance class at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
- Leave sidewalk chalk messages
- Giant bubble blowing kit
- Create and post a Dubsmash
- Watch sunrise
- Watch sunset
- Put together a flower arrangement and gift to a stranger
- Roam an unfamiliar city
- Playful visit to the dog park with Harriet Ethel
- Construct the word “BE” with random materials
- Visit Havana Spa for a salt scrub
- Write a blog post from cards that you pull from The Storymatic
- Take a screenwriting class
- Aerial arts class at Gravity
I’m all think-think-think too, Kirsten! At the moment, act>think is one of the six directions on my personal compass—to remind myself to take action sooner rather than letting ideas swirl around endlessly in my mind, as is my nature. Doing #100DaysofMindMapping last fall helped me to take action. Each new day comes sooner than you think, so the content/result became less and less important—it was all about the process of doing. There were so many mind maps, I didn’t mind having “crappy” ones among the mix.
You have a great list of ideas here! Many look more involved, so I’d suggest having some 5-min. ideas on hand (or not! …coming up with them on the spot based on what’s happening that day could be a nice exercise in creativity, too!) 😉
A few ideas: Blasting a favorite song and dancing around the room; making silly faces in a mirror or taking funny photobooth photos; reading a children’s book from the library; brainstorming alternative uses for [household object]; doodle; turn the food on your plate into an image; finger painting; wearing pigtails or overalls — or something else that’s playful; racing (on foot) to a door/destination… I’m excited to see how your project plays out! 🙂
Rebecca – I can relate to so much of what you wrote. Love the point that no matter what it is you are doing, it is about moving toward action and enjoying the PROCESS! Something that I want in my life over the goal-oriented mentality that can consume me. Agree – I was a bit worried about activities that are time intensive, as what allowed my 365 Day Project to work was the accessibility of it. Definitely want to leave some days for just spontaneity – so that the playfulness comes from within and is not always planned. But – I LOVE your ideas!! Such great playful spirit in all of them – just reading them put a smile on my face :o) Thanks!!!
i LOVE this! So much fun and living in the moment 🙂
Totally would have done this myself but I am already doing the #atozchallenge to write every day in April on my blog, so am swamped already.. Next year maybe!
Have fun!
Thanks, Rads!! Yeah – it really is about the practice of BEing and living in the moment. Good luck with the #atozchallenge and writing every day – that is such a good practice! Have fun!