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Come on Barbie, Let's Discover the Power of Play
Come on Barbie, Let's Discover the Power of Play
By Becky murdoch
If you’re like me you probably have a ton of stuff going on ALL THE TIME. I have my day job, all the fun things I do with Epiphany Space, personal projects, and a social life. I typically work six days a week and take one day off but sometimes, I’m so tempted to work that extra day.
This weekend was one of those weekends, I was so busy and didn’t get a lot of work-work done. I almost headed to Hollywood on Sunday but after church, I decided to head home instead. I had plans to see "Sound of Freedom" on Sunday night so that was going to be a nice break. We got the times mixed up and ended up seeing "Barbie" instead. I’m so happy we did!
Barbie was my absolute favorite toy when I was a kid (...well…I did love my Cabbage Patch Kids a whole lot too…I was an 80s kid…what can I say?). I only played Barbies with my friend Jenny and we played out elaborate storylines and created these mega-dream houses (where we lived communally in Hollywood…somehow from a young age, I knew this was the only way to afford a house in L.A.).
This isn’t a review of "Barbie." You can love it or hate it, I don’t care. I loved it. I laughed harder than I have in a long time and I actually cried (wasn’t expecting that). I love that I got to see Greta Gerwig play with Barbie. It ignited a sense of play that I needed. If I had my Barbies here in LA, I probably would have been playing with them on Sunday night.
What has sparked your sense of play lately?
Wow. I wrote that almost a year ago and I really struggle to think of a time that I felt a sense of play again…until last Friday night.
My friend and I hit the road and headed to the Forum in Inglewood to see New Kids on the Block. I’m a total fangirl; it was my 17th show. Somehow, it still feels like I’m 13 and seeing them again for the first time. I think it’s because I let my 13-year-old self come out and just love these five guys with my whole being. I screamed so much I lost my voice, I danced all night and then went home and ate ice cream. It was glorious!
Then Saturday morning, I was back at work. Mostly because I had to run Project Accelerator. My project did not get accelerated. I was so tired.
Play looks a little different for me now.
Play often time needs to be followed by rest.
Play sometimes needs to be scheduled.
Play needs to be more than watching television.
Today, play looked like free writing a bit of a blog post and hanging some art in my bedroom. It's gathering art supplies for a project I've been meaning to work on for the last 6 months. Maybe starting a new puzzle or finishing my paint-by-number. It's looking at the list by my bed of things I can do instead of watching Fraiser for the billionth time. It's looking at my calendar and blocking off free time to play so I don't feel guilty.
Play is no longer as easy as walking into the Barbie wonderland that was my childhood basement.
I'm off to schedule some play.
Also, I’m watching Barbie again! Here’s to a summer of play!
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Epiphany Space is a global artist community, with hubs in Los Angeles and Columbus, GA. We gather creative professionals to help each other online and in person.
We are a 501c3, Non-profit Organization.