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Even This Time of Year, You Have a Right to Play

Little simple ways to beat the holiday stress.

Last night, my cohorts in the women’s group were talking about the busy-ness of this time of year. How can we get ready to celebrate Christmas if we’re so bogged down with “gottas” and have little time for “wannas”?

I suggested booking time for ourselves on our schedules. Even 15 minutes is useful. A half hour is even better. Listen to music. Look at things and try for a new perspective. Close your eyes. Read.  Pray.  Knit.  Whatever makes you happy.  Whatever makes you loving.  Whatever makes the world a slightly better place.

Today, in the box I grabbed to put my packages for the cookie exchange, I found a small piece of prose. Bruce Williamson wrote it. I don’t know where else it was published and I hope I’m not breaking copyright protection. I found it without the circled C at

http://www.itstime.com/download/HappyChildhood.pdf

 

Certificate of Lifetime Membership

By this certificate, know all that the holder of this Certificate
is a lifetime member in good standing in The Society of Childlike Persons
and is hereby and forever entitled to:

Walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, collect rainbows, smell flowers, blow bubbles, stop along the way, build sandcastles, watch the moon & stars come out, say hello to everyone, go barefoot, go on adventures, sing in the shower, have a merry heart, read children’s books, act silly, take bubble baths, get new sneakers, hold hands & hug & kiss, dance, fly kites, laugh & cry for the health of it, wonder around, feel scared, feel sad, feel mad, feel happy, give up worry & guilt & shame, stay innocent, say yes, say no, say the magic words, ask lots of questions, ride bicycles, draw & paint, see things differently, fall down & get up again, talk with animals, look at the sky, trust the universe, stay up late, climb trees, take naps, do nothing, daydream, play with toys, play under the covers, have pillow fights, learn new stuff, get excited about everything, be a clown, enjoy having a body, listen to music, find out how things work, make up new rules, tell stories, save the world, make friends with the other kids on the block and do anything else that brings more happiness, celebration, relaxation, communication, health, love, joy, creativity, pleasure, abundance, grace, self esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity, passion, beauty, peace, and life energy to the above named member and to other humans & beings on this planet.

 

Further, the above named member is hereby officially authorized to frequent amusement parks, beaches, meadows, mountaintops, swimming pools, forests, playgrounds, picnic areas, summer camps, birthday parties, rodeos, circuses, cookie shops, ice cream parlors, theaters, aquariums, zoos, museums, planetariums, toy stores, festivals, & other places where children of all ages come to play and is encouraged to always remember the motto of The Society of Childlike Persons:

It’s Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood

And, is hereby and forever more appointed as:

Chairperson, Committee on Reminding Everyone That The Secret To The Game Of Life Is Fun.

 

Funny how that showed up, huh?

Live Inspired:  think boldly; dare greatly; love unconditionally; act deliberately, kindly, justly, mercifully and humbly; forgive easily; laugh frequently!

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Tom Brown June 14, 2013 at 10:18 am
I notice that too! Wonder where the actual polling place will be.
Jessica Chipkin June 13, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Martha -- please email us if you aren't on our list. turn14blue@gmail.com
Martina Natoma June 18, 2013 at 06:56 am
Hope all of you Dem's have your Obamaphones, welfare checks, and unfunded Illinois pensions workin'Read More for you. Democrats are destroying IL. Business and real estate is rockin' in Republican states. Get it?
Martha Hanna June 18, 2013 at 08:55 am
Martina, were you upset when Cheney and Bush implemented the NSA programs? The real estate isRead More booming in CA, last time I checked it was a BLUE state. Fracking, oil, and shale are booming in RED states, so is that a good thing? Not really, I would like to get off of all fossil fuels.
Basale
Geneva Vikings June 10, 2013 at 10:28 am
We have 24 hours to find a foster for these babies! We are pulling 8 from this Animal ControlRead More Facility and would love to rescue these 5 tiny pups too. Fostering is an amazing experience for your entire family and Casey's SAfe Haven pays all of the costs to foster. We provide food, vet care, crate, puppy playpen, toys, etc. You provide plenty of love, socialization and since they are puppies we hope you have a lot of newspaper! Please email Kathy at caseysdogs@yahoo.com
Fred Cregier June 11, 2013 at 02:11 pm
I have to agree with the others who are disappointed with the new format of Patch. The old versionRead More had more zip and more interesting topics. Now it has become very blah! I am sorry but change is not always a good thing. Fred Cregier
Arthur Dietrich June 12, 2013 at 08:23 am
The link provided by LW Sagan explains why the Patch is becoming irrelevant and that is a shame. IRead More don't even think Rick Nagel can save it.
Fred Cregier June 12, 2013 at 08:52 am
Chris, I have another story of waste in the County to add to your fix-it lists: We received,Read More yesterday, our new voters registration cards from John Cunningham's office, telling us that our polling place will be Coultrap School (which has been the case previously for many years). The problem is that Coultrap School is currently being demolished! So, who pays for having to send out corrections on this? Is Cunningham's office that insulated from what is going on in the real world? Fred Cregier