Collin mixes and matches. He pulls from this imaginative pile and that. An eyepatch from one play pile and a hat from another work perfectly well as he perches on the sofa next to his cousin Andrew.
Collin is particular at times, of course, as is true of any 6-year-old. But on this night, to be with family, to be with Andrew, to be watching one last Christmas celebration, he grabbed the costume pieces that were close and played.
We laughed and moved on with the evening. As I look back, however, I think that Collin had a profound insight: just play.
We worry mightily about having things just right. We worry about what everyone will think. We worry that we will say the right thing, that we will smile at the right time and at the right story.
And I think, on this last Sunday evening of the old year, that there is a place for pirate cabbies, for things that don’t match…
for being 6.
Thanks for stopping by. I used to write here. But I don't anymore. 
Levite Chronicles 
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Excellent, excellent post. Sometimes you need to play. This includes being yourself and being creative and just having fun. Letting your personality come through, not being afraid to let others see who you really are, taking a risk. Letting your guard down, seeing the humor in things, seeing God’s sense of humor, and sharing it with others. Being open to see God’s sense of humor in the first place. Not being afraid to share with others. Being light hearted at times. Being serious, sure, even while light hearted, but perhaps not taking yourself so seriously, and not worrying about what “the crowd” will think of you if you are a little different, if you are yourself, if you let your defenses down and be yourself and just play!
Let me say what I mean by “let your defenses down” and “dare to be yourself” “risk.” I’ll get right to the punch. I spend some time on Twitter. There are those who seem to scold you if you are playful or see God’s humor in things at all. I know, it’s happened to me. I’ve been unfollowed. Don’t get me wrong. I’m highly serious on Twitter, passing on blog posts, quotes, verses, news articles, retweets, etc, or tell things in my own words that I think are important. I also discuss things that I think are just plain delightful, refreshing, humerous, funny or playful. Not all the time, but sometimes. Why, because they are important also. See, my motto is, “Work hard! Play hard!” I can’t help it, I’m just intense. And I guess I’m not going to apologize for it, LOL.
I’m not going to apologize for being me. Some UnFollow me for it. How do I feel about it? That’s their problem. Actually sometimes I feel very hurt when someone I thought was my friend UnFollows me, but everybody has the right to Follow anybody they want, so I keep that in mind and it’s fine.
I just know that sometimes there are those that UnFollow because I am playful along with being one of the most serious people I know! Some think it is not cool to be in the same network with someone who has fun some of the time. I don’t understand that. They worry about how they are going to be perceived. Well, let them drop me then. I don’t need them as friends (don’t need them in my network if I can’t be myself.
So just be yourself and at the appropriate times, just play!
Excellent post! I’ve added you on Twitter! :;
Krissy 🙂
visit my main blog: Sometimes I Think
visit me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
Thanks for the metaphor. I found you from Chris Brogan’s blog posting today.
Kids are a lot smarter than adults. It’s almost like we learn is in reverse as we age.
As a child, we learn about possibilities.
As an adult, we learn about limitations and rules.
But child’s play rules.
It’s why simple beats complex.
It’s why oxymorons work.
Thanks for an insightful post.
Bolaji-thanks for visiting today.
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