We Forgot How to Play, and It’s Costing Us Our Color
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Leah Williams specializing in Lymphatic drainage, imparting knowledge and expertise in Somatic release. President and Owner of Lymphatic Somatic Massage by Leah. Licensed Massage Therapist for over 25 years.
“Thank God it’s Friday.” That’s a popular American slogan. We finished our work week with plans for the weekend already established, or with high hopes of arriving at work or school on Monday after a “great weekend.” We used to use the terms recreation and weekend interchangeably. Children were encouraged to pursue recreational activities, and adults recognized their need for recreation. At times, we spoke of having leisure time, free time, and spare time.
On a scale from 1 to 10, recreation is the ultimate way to describe this innate need to recreate ourselves after completing our week. Leisure is free time, a time to be at ease, rest, and enjoy ourselves. Free time, on the other hand, can also mean spare time. These two terms are not necessarily interchangeable because freedom is relative, so it is discretionary. Spare time, well, that is at times incremental, possibly accumulative. We should aim for recreation, of course!
We promised our children a bright future. But their lives, much like our own these days, consist mainly of spare time. Incremental time. We cross our fingers, hoping it will accumulate and add up over time, a lot like spare change. But like spare change these days, it is rare and normally just found in decimals in our bank apps. Our young ones spend most of their leisure, youth time to spare, on apps and phones.
Young and old have spare time, but we are struggling to reach the point of recreation. We have more leisure and free time these days, and that leaves us at a deficit. We are all creativity-deficient, and it doesn’t look brighter on the horizon. Some sort of grey cloud is looming ahead. But it is made of “shades of grey” that look fifty shades darker, and we aren’t freed at the end of it at all. Yes, we forgot how to play in a creative way!
Let’s remember what play meant as a child. Dad loved his car, and Joey loved his “Hot Wheels.” Mom washed dishes and cooked, and Sally had her “kitchen set.” Our younger sibling had diapers and a bottle, and so did our baby dolls. There wasn’t as much construction as we see these days, but when we did see it, we went home and played with our Legos. We had toy tractors and cranes, shopping carts, vacuum cleaners, and brooms. We had “Marines” and “G.I. Joes.”
So, as we grew, we could throw out the toys, pick up the machinery, and walk the stage. We were playing the game of life, and it was fun because we were good at it and only got better with time. So, when we wanted to recreate ourselves, we now had the “freedom” to explore new places and themes. We mastered pieces, crafts, arts, sheets of music, and dance steps. Our children watched us and wondered at our seemingly endless ability to be “good at it”!
“Fifty Shades of Grey” and darker has not freed us. We used to discipline ourselves using our skills and creativity. Now we seek dominance and erotic role-playing. Our physical bodies are not able to regenerate efficiently. We lack creative adult play that is healthy, refreshing, cool, fun, welcoming, and equally fun for all ages, yet at times intimate and satisfying while still filled with color and diversity. Our auric field is filled with colors and an entire rainbow. Not fifty shades of grey. That’s death and decay.
Read more from Leah Williams
Leah Williams, President & Owner, Licensed Massage Therapist
Leah Williams pioneering lymphatic drainage on deeper levels brings awareness to the connection between the water of our lymph systems, our auric field, and our Soma. In her mid-thirties, over a decade ago, her own personal health challenges led her to research the lymphatic system, which in turn she merged that understanding into her massage practice. While on that journey after witnessing Somatic release in clients, she discovered her Soma. Once an orthodox monotheist instructor, she now understands the ancient traditions of cultures around the world and their contributions towards the path of rediscovering the Authentic Human and our ability to heal from within, with the help of Creation's Energy.
