When's The Last Time You Played?

I've been watching two puppies playing this weekend. We have a nine month old and got an 8 week old to become his buddy. Sometimes they forget their own strength and one yelps and we come running to make sure they’re ok. Then they go at it again and don't want to stop. I've begun to notice that when they get really aggressive it really means they’re really tired and I carry the little one in and the other follows. He fights being in my arms and then I sit him down and he literally passes out right there on the floor.

They’re so much like little children. They go and go and are afraid they’re missing out on something if they take a nap. They also keep grabbing each other's toys, just like little kids. Still want what the other's got and as soon as they get it they go after what they just left behind.

And they remind me of adults too. Going and going without paying attention to when it's time to slow down. Wanting what the other has when they may not even need it or even have the same thing already. So it makes me wonder what we need to do that really take care of our self.

1. Naps. I'm not talking about sleeping in the middle of the day but naps from the rush of things. Stop and take a time out from the stress and the rush of things. A Saturday afternoon up to the mountains, or a Sunday evening family game. When was the last time you slowed down? I don't hear about that so much any more.

2. It's summer, even with the chill in the air and the recent rains, let's commit to some fun this summer that we've never done before or isn't what we normally choose. Make sure you are doing some play time, a bit of rough housing for play like the puppies for me would be going to the batting cages. I never played baseball so it's fun to go to the cages and do something different. It's important for the brain to get things mixed up a bit, drive a different way to work has been heard before but how about playing differently too? Find a game that the family hasn't played before or go to a different park and get a frisbee and throw with your opposite hand. It may lead to a few laughs as well! I know the batting cages does for me!

3. Know when you've had enough and don't need everything the kid playing next to you has. Donate some goodies this summer to continue the decluttering we were talking about a few months ago, find a family to sponsor and give to them  and if you are in a financial rut then become the family to be sponsored. Be ok with asking for help if you need it. Don't push yourself so hard that you miss out on opportunities to help or be helped. Really, look at what you have and know if it is enough.

It's an interesting time right now and still a chance to mix it up a bit and do things differently. Watch some puppies play, get a giggle out of your day and see some silliness....It's a lot of fun!