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freedom
June 2009 
Article: Life as a Playground--Is It Time For Recess Yet?
Posted on Oct 16th, 2008
by 
DivineSpark
DivineSpark
"Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all..." ~ Dr. Seuss
Have you ever heard the saying, "Experience is the hardest teacher, it gives the test before the lesson?" Here's another doozy for you that I found when researching for this article, "Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger" Friedrich Nietzsche, The Twilight of the Idols (1899). While I understand and appreciate the sentiments illustrated in these theories about life, I am here to offer a very different outlook. I don't know about you, but I don't want experience to be the "hardest teacher," and I definitely do not want to go to a "school of war." Frankly, when I was in school, I always just preferred the playground. Didn't you?
Experience is a great teacher, and it is not untrue that we can often feel very tested by our lives. I went full-time with my business in May, and I must say, that this experience has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life, thus far. All of the sudden, I went from working 28 hours a week at a day-job and squeezing clients and marketing in wherever I could to just coaching everyday, and boy, have I learned A LOT about myself. The main thing that I realized is that somewhere along the way, I forgot about the fun. I started to feel constantly tested, but worse, I was beginning to judge myself as a failure. Oh yeah folks, Life Coaches do that, too. :)
I was finding myself in a constant state of judgment--thinking that I wasn't working hard enough, I wasn't responding to emails fast enough, I wasn't doing enough marketing, and then I started judging myself for judging myself! Sound familiar? All of these beliefs were spinning around in my head (I had a lot of sleepless nights) and ultimately feeding the belief that I am not enough. I was feeling punished left and right, at times wondering, "When is life going to get easier?! When am I just going to learn whatever the heck it is that I'm supposed to learn?!" What I didn't realize is that I was the one punishing myself. I was being the most critical, unforgiving, nasty teacher you could ever imagine. Who learns from that kind of teacher? I know I don't.
Ta-Da! I had an epiphany. This whole "life is a school" thing is all fine and dandy--we certainly are constantly learning; but the one BIG difference between school and life is that unlike tests in school, in life, there truly are no right or wrong answers, right or wrong choices. Though it may feel like we can get WAY off track at times and even that life is punishing us, we are always on track. Our souls just LOVE the scenic route through life, and so we choose this way and that way; but all roads lead to the same place. All roads lead to ourselves.
You maybe someone whose house is in foreclosure. Your relationship may be in turmoil, your job. You may be struggling with an addiction. You may even have gone to jail. Society will do whatever it can to put life in black and white terms of RIGHT vs. WRONG, but on a soul level, you chose this path. You chose the discovery route through life. Maybe you haven't been listening very well to the calling of your soul, but the Universe/God/Spirit/Source is ALWAYS listening. You are always provided with exactly what you need at the perfect, right time--it doesn't always feel good in the moment, but it is never TRULY punishment. You're heart will open to receive that love, to see the growth opportunities, at the perfect, right time. No right. No wrong. You are always exactly who and where you need to be.
I invite you to imagine being on a playground at recess time in school. Just like in the classroom, there is a lot to learn on the playground--how to play kickball, hopscotch, all of the fun ways to swing on swings, how to play fairly with the other children. You aren't thinking about being right or wrong, you are just thinking how fun it is to learn how to play this game, how fun it is to play with your friends. You feel free and happy. You feel like you can be yourself.
I am happy to say that the playground is much more the arena of life than the classroom. Life is about stretching and growing, seeking the adventure around every corner and getting messy in the process. I got plenty of bruises and scrapes and experienced my share of bullies out on the playground, but when I look back at recess, I just remember the fun; because that was the goal. Fun can also be the goal of your life.
In what ways are you putting limits on yourself, judging your choices as right and wrong? In what ways are you judging the consequences of your choices as punishment for making "wrong choices"? How would it feel to release the belief that you can make a right or a wrong choice and simply choose the path that feels the most joyful? How are you being loved and cared for even in this moment?
I can say that I've been through a tough couple of months, but at the perfect, right time, I was able to open my eyes and see the way in which I have been loved this whole time. I'm already feeling gratitude for the experience, and I am being MUCH kinder with myself. Now that I kicked the nasty, judgmental teacher out of my mind, I'm swingin' on swings and having a grand old time! Yes, we are always learning, but how about we ditch the "school of war?" Folks, I'm ringing the bell. It's time for recess...all the time...starting.....NOW!
Would you like some assistance in releasing self-judgment and bringing the fun and playfulness back into your life? I would love nothing more than to help you discover the beautiful life that awaits you. Through a series of powerful inquiries and looking at your Astrological Chart I can reveal some powerful tools that you have within you to start living a life of passion and purpose, NOW. Contact me for a free sample session so that we can explore the many ways that my coaching will support you in living your best life OUT LOUD!: igniteyourvoice@gmail.com.
With Love and Deep Gratitude,
:)Melissa Simonson
Spiritual Life Coach
www.igniteyourvoice.com
©2008 Melissa Simonson
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? No problem!--as long as you use this entire blurb with it: As an Inspired Speaker and Spiritual Life Coach, Melissa Simonson combines wisdom gleaned from Zen Buddhism, Astrology, New Thought traditions, both ancient and contemporary philosophies, with a BA in Psychology, to create a safe and accepting space for her clients to explore their dreams, release the beliefs that are no longer serving their Higher Purpose and manifest joy in their lives, NOW. To receive her FREE articles containing life-changing insights and coaching tools visit www.igniteyourvoice.com.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Experience is the hardest teacher, it gives the test before the lesson?" Here's another doozy for you that I found when researching for this article, "Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger" Friedrich Nietzsche, The Twilight of the Idols (1899). While I understand and appreciate the sentiments illustrated in these theories about life, I am here to offer a very different outlook. I don't know about you, but I don't want experience to be the "hardest teacher," and I definitely do not want to go to a "school of war." Frankly, when I was in school, I always just preferred the playground. Didn't you?
Experience is a great teacher, and it is not untrue that we can often feel very tested by our lives. I went full-time with my business in May, and I must say, that this experience has been one of the most challenging experiences in my life, thus far. All of the sudden, I went from working 28 hours a week at a day-job and squeezing clients and marketing in wherever I could to just coaching everyday, and boy, have I learned A LOT about myself. The main thing that I realized is that somewhere along the way, I forgot about the fun. I started to feel constantly tested, but worse, I was beginning to judge myself as a failure. Oh yeah folks, Life Coaches do that, too. :)
I was finding myself in a constant state of judgment--thinking that I wasn't working hard enough, I wasn't responding to emails fast enough, I wasn't doing enough marketing, and then I started judging myself for judging myself! Sound familiar? All of these beliefs were spinning around in my head (I had a lot of sleepless nights) and ultimately feeding the belief that I am not enough. I was feeling punished left and right, at times wondering, "When is life going to get easier?! When am I just going to learn whatever the heck it is that I'm supposed to learn?!" What I didn't realize is that I was the one punishing myself. I was being the most critical, unforgiving, nasty teacher you could ever imagine. Who learns from that kind of teacher? I know I don't.
Ta-Da! I had an epiphany. This whole "life is a school" thing is all fine and dandy--we certainly are constantly learning; but the one BIG difference between school and life is that unlike tests in school, in life, there truly are no right or wrong answers, right or wrong choices. Though it may feel like we can get WAY off track at times and even that life is punishing us, we are always on track. Our souls just LOVE the scenic route through life, and so we choose this way and that way; but all roads lead to the same place. All roads lead to ourselves.
You maybe someone whose house is in foreclosure. Your relationship may be in turmoil, your job. You may be struggling with an addiction. You may even have gone to jail. Society will do whatever it can to put life in black and white terms of RIGHT vs. WRONG, but on a soul level, you chose this path. You chose the discovery route through life. Maybe you haven't been listening very well to the calling of your soul, but the Universe/God/Spirit/Source is ALWAYS listening. You are always provided with exactly what you need at the perfect, right time--it doesn't always feel good in the moment, but it is never TRULY punishment. You're heart will open to receive that love, to see the growth opportunities, at the perfect, right time. No right. No wrong. You are always exactly who and where you need to be.
I invite you to imagine being on a playground at recess time in school. Just like in the classroom, there is a lot to learn on the playground--how to play kickball, hopscotch, all of the fun ways to swing on swings, how to play fairly with the other children. You aren't thinking about being right or wrong, you are just thinking how fun it is to learn how to play this game, how fun it is to play with your friends. You feel free and happy. You feel like you can be yourself.
I am happy to say that the playground is much more the arena of life than the classroom. Life is about stretching and growing, seeking the adventure around every corner and getting messy in the process. I got plenty of bruises and scrapes and experienced my share of bullies out on the playground, but when I look back at recess, I just remember the fun; because that was the goal. Fun can also be the goal of your life.
In what ways are you putting limits on yourself, judging your choices as right and wrong? In what ways are you judging the consequences of your choices as punishment for making "wrong choices"? How would it feel to release the belief that you can make a right or a wrong choice and simply choose the path that feels the most joyful? How are you being loved and cared for even in this moment?
I can say that I've been through a tough couple of months, but at the perfect, right time, I was able to open my eyes and see the way in which I have been loved this whole time. I'm already feeling gratitude for the experience, and I am being MUCH kinder with myself. Now that I kicked the nasty, judgmental teacher out of my mind, I'm swingin' on swings and having a grand old time! Yes, we are always learning, but how about we ditch the "school of war?" Folks, I'm ringing the bell. It's time for recess...all the time...starting.....NOW!
Would you like some assistance in releasing self-judgment and bringing the fun and playfulness back into your life? I would love nothing more than to help you discover the beautiful life that awaits you. Through a series of powerful inquiries and looking at your Astrological Chart I can reveal some powerful tools that you have within you to start living a life of passion and purpose, NOW. Contact me for a free sample session so that we can explore the many ways that my coaching will support you in living your best life OUT LOUD!: igniteyourvoice@gmail.com.
With Love and Deep Gratitude,
:)Melissa Simonson
Spiritual Life Coach
www.igniteyourvoice.com
©2008 Melissa Simonson
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? No problem!--as long as you use this entire blurb with it: As an Inspired Speaker and Spiritual Life Coach, Melissa Simonson combines wisdom gleaned from Zen Buddhism, Astrology, New Thought traditions, both ancient and contemporary philosophies, with a BA in Psychology, to create a safe and accepting space for her clients to explore their dreams, release the beliefs that are no longer serving their Higher Purpose and manifest joy in their lives, NOW. To receive her FREE articles containing life-changing insights and coaching tools visit www.igniteyourvoice.com.
Access: PublicTagged with: Fun, Play, Learning, Growth, Opportunities, Punishment, Judgment, Joy, Freedom, Permission
You are so right! In the past it has always been myself that has been my hardest critic. The thing to me that shows you chose the right profession is that you were able to see your own pattern, and were able to step out and be the observer and not only figure out how to make your own life better, but you also let yourself gain the tools to better help those in the same situations in life. It's one thing to like recess, and to know where the bell is that lets us have all that fun, but it's a whole nother thing to have the strength and understanding to know that we can sound that bell ourselves.
We all have a tendency to fall into the patterns of the negative. Like myself, I believe my life is perfect, I have just about everything I want in life, I know how to create my life just how I want it, and I'm happy 99% of the time in my life, but every once in awhile I will let those patterns come in that says I should be working harder to be happy. That it all shouldn't be so easy for me, or that because all those close to me are going through pain or drama, then so should I be.
But the greatest thing about my life is, this falling into the patterns of negative, is only a very small percentage of my life, and I always manage to see if for what it is eventually.
Thanks for sharring the article! I spend a lot of my time being the person that most come to with their problems, and it strengthens my spirit and my soul when I get to see or hear someone who is walking through the darkness wistling, because they know that shortly the sun will rise.
I even had one of my close friends text me yesterday, letting me know they had gotten laid off. I called to check on them, and was expecting a sad person on the phone. I was so honored when I was actually able to witness then not being sad, but better yet knowing that everything was ok just as it was.
Glad to see you back out dancing around! And even though I've said it before, I'm very glad to know people like yourself are out there to everyone follow their bliss(ring the bell for recess). :)
Haha. More laid off people. I'm not being cynical with the laughter. Consider it affectionate, “I'm in that group too” sort of laughter. It's interesting to see people getting laid off and some people quitting their jobs. Quite a bit of turbulence in these times.
I don't think it's much of a playground initially. I think you have to go to school a lot and learn your lessons. Then you create a space for play as you move through the things that you have to move through. I'm in a space where the light fluffy stuff doesn't really make sense as I realize just how much work and focus I've put into myself and on my spiritual path. Sure it's helpful to give people that sense of hope of the playground–a kind of light at the end of the tunnel. But so many people in the US culture just avoid discomfort so much that even the scrapes and bruises from the playground are difficult for them.
I don't mean to be overly critical here (and perhaps this is the writer in me =), but I sense just a little too sticky-sweetness here. People have to walk opened eyed into this stuff and usually the way to the playground is straight through that mean headmaster, which as you've pointed out is usually yourself.
Thanks to both of you beautiful souls for your thoughtful comments. It's always interesting how people can respond so differently to what I write, depending on where they are in their lives at the time. That's the gift of writing, though. If I get you to think and explore for yourself, then I've done my job well. I'm glad that I spurred your thoughts in such a way. It is a compliment.
My piece wasn't intended to make light or fluffy the realness of human struggle. It was by no means an invitation for people to NOT feel their feelings. I simply do not believe in duality. I do not believe that work and play are two different things–we as humans with complex minds make them different. My article was meant as an invitation to become aware of the way in which we JUDGE our feelings and experiences as right vs. wrong (again, another duality)….I just went through one of the deepest depressions of my life, and by no means was it a cakewalk or something that I was able to avoid. It was the resistance and judgment of my thoughts and feelings that made it most painful; however. It was when I was able to allow my emotions to truly flow through me, without labeling them, that joy started to reveal itself again.
I do believe that even the belief that life has to be hard at times is tremedously limiting. Who says? I think that if we start to claim the belief “I am here to have fun” rather than “I am here to learn,” we are still going to learn, but we are expanding our experience to something BEYOND simply learning. What we focus on expands, so if we focus on learning as the goal we are going to experience lesson after lesson, but if we focus on fun as the goal we are going to enjoy the ride. Even sadness can feel good if we simply realize that its okay to feel sad. Our mind is a very powerful thing that can limit us tremendously when we let it rule our lives.
Because my belief system was “I am here to learn” that has been my experience–the Universe was helping me meet the needs of my soul through a lot of hard lessons. As I am shifting my focus to “I am here to have fun, to be in the flow and experience my path unfolding with ease,” the Universe is still helping me meet the needs of my soul, but I don't believe the lessons will have to be as hard. I feel like I've stepped into a much larger room that is allowing me to breathe for perhaps the first time ever.
So, I honor and respect your beliefs and the way in which they serve you, and I recognize that you respect mine. To quote my favorite spiritual teacher, Adyashanti: “Enjoy yourself…Even when you're not.”
Blessings,
:)Melissa
You are right, most everything that every being believes and thinks is extremely limiting in this reality, but that is changing slowly. We are all of God, and the universe is most definitly our playground, our easle, our dreams, our creation.
More and more are slowly remembering this, and it's great that you are there to help them understand it.
I am all, I AM!
Blessings,
Ricky