Hi everyone! The Halloween spirit was alive at Emmanuel for sure, with many creative, resourceful, scary, and fabulous costumes. I saw a wizard-like witch’s hat with bats flying around the rim, an inventive cape and hood made from a sheet and pillow case, brains made from different colored saran wraps and glue, several masks, a biker, and so many other imaginative costumes that fascinated and inspired me. Halloween seems to be the one time of year that as adults we can allow our inner children out to play but what if we could give ourselves permission to play more frequently?

After Café Emmanuel Thursday, Evey taught a few of us how to ballroom dance. She’s quite a dancer and teacher. We had so much fun! It was yet another reason to be playful, and after a while we became more comfortable making mistakes. There was a lot of laughter and in-the-moment fun.

Sometimes I can get so bogged down by the stresses of grad school, lack of sleep, and life in general that I end up stuck in my head, not fully present in my body, and as a result not fully present to this wonderful gift we call life. Wherever we are on the spectrum of our evolving playfulness, let’s try to give ourselves permission to be our childlike selves. This could be as simple as sharing a goofy smile with a friend, telling a joke, wearing a bright color or funky patterned pants, or making a piece of outrageous art. It could also be as daring as singing loudly in public and showing off your dance moves, just make sure the coast is clear for that one.

My experience at Emmanuel keeps changing, deepening, and opening me up to new revelations. I appreciate this wonderful place and all of you for sharing with me many connections. It is something common in our human fabric. We all have the need to be who we are and feel connected to ourselves. We also have the need to be connected to others. In the spaces between where we are, who we’ll be, and our curiosity about others there is a wealth of creativity, playfulness, and joy. Let’s try our best to let the kids out of our hearts more and see what their innate wisdom can teach us.

Sincerely,
Liz Kelly