2013 Game on… It’s time to PLAY!

Welcome to 2013 everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous time celebrating the holidays and ringing in the New Year. Did you all set your goals for the year? You have until the end of the week to solidify them so take your time and if you need some help read my post on SMART goals.

Every year I take some time to get away by myself and reflect on the last 365 days and set an intention for the next 365 days to come. This time of the year has a very special meaning to me where three big shifts occur within weeks of one another: a season changes, a new year begins, and it’s my birthday. It’s no wonder I’m usually a frantic mess… haha. But after a few days of peace and quiet I come to my senses and realize that it’s really not THAT serious!

I’m so excited about this year… why? You ask. Because my intention for this year is PLAY!!! Simply saying it makes me want to jump up and down and do cartwheels and I’m looking forward to doing just that each and every day this year.

Over the last few years I got real serious about the way I eat, about doing yoga, about riding my bicycle, about work and about life and you know what… I felt like CRAP! I was doing all these things that I enjoyed doing but my well-being was suffering big time. What gives? I was missing the most important ingredient of life… PLAY.

The art of Play dates back to our primal roots. Next time you’re outdoors observe the leaves on a tree blowing in the wind or dogs jumping on one another, even birds chirping together. Nature is one ginormous playground!
Simply taking a few minutes to laugh out loud and skip about can completely transform your mental state. Done repeatedly play can ward of stress, increase energy, and even burn excess fat. Now, who doesn’t want that?!

The last few weeks I’ve been spending more time on the couch watching some good ol heartwarming Bollywood movies. Taking more time to chat with friends and family. And spontaneously jumping on a plane to hang out on a beautiful Maui beach. All in the name of PLAY.

I feel great and I can’t wait to explore my life this year through my playful lens.

I leave with you these wise words in season for my birthday:

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

So… what’s your one word 2013 intention? Post to comments…