Child's Play - Ice Cream for the Soul by Joy Koenig, MD - Personal Growth, Wellness, Healthy Lifestyle, Meditation, Inspiration

CHILD'S PLAY
CATEGORY

        Meditation Game

DESCRIPTION

        Use children's toys to brighten your mood, then give them away.

INSTRUCTIONS

        Go to a toy store and buy $5-100 worth of anything that makes you smile or laugh. After you play with them yourself, give the toys away to any child you think has been sad lately. As an alternative, take them to a foster home, a homeless shelter for families, or a battered women's family shelter.

RELATED IDEA

        Short of cash? Spend your lunch hour in a toy store. Rattle the rattles, honk the horns, squeeze the squeaky toys, and sing or dance along with the musical toys. Invite a friend to join you. Worried someone you know will see you? You can always pretend you're looking for a birthday present for your long distance niece or nephew , or let them wonder if a new baby is coming into your life.

JOY'S JOURNEY

        Having your favorite childhood toys around can brighten your mood, even if you don't play with them. Like many people, my childhood was a mixture of pain and pleasure. For a long time, the painful parts overtook the pleasurable ones. My warmer childhood memories are triggered when I walk into my living room and see the traditional metal Slinky™ on my spiritual altar (see HOME BASE). Now, it is easier to remember the fun that was tucked away behind the pain.

QUOTES

The simplest toy, one which even the youngest
child can operate, is called a grandparent.
Sam Levenson

The dead take to the grave, clutched in their hands,
only what they have given away.
DeWitt Wallace

He who dies with the most toys is, nonetheless, still dead.
Unknown

Dr. Joy is available to present playful workshops (playshops) at your corporate training retreat, non profit organization gathering, or club membership meetings. She is located in Denver, Colorado, and travels throughout the US to deliver Serious Fun ™ Programs for personal growth, wellness, and inspiration. Please see the program pages for details and contact information.

This playful meditation activity is COPYRIGHTED. If you are a professional trainer, coach, human resources person, counselor, or therapist it is not ethical nor legal for you to use it or share it with your clients or those you supervise/train as part of your job. See the copyright notice on the front page of this e-book. Remember, character is what you do when no one is looking. Please take the high road, and pay me appropriately to use these materials professionally, even if you work for a church, school, non-profit or the government.