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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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A WAY TO PLAY TODAY
It had been a grueling week with more than the usual number of crises to handle. I'd been up late the night before, and arisen at 6 a.m. thinking of something I'd forgotten to do the previous day. My body wanted to go back to sleep, but my bloodshot eyes wouldn't close. So I dressed, ate some breakfast, and completed my pending business. Then a colleague asked if I would watch her two children for a few minutes. Since there was a slide and swing set nearby, I agreed. After all, it's not that difficult to push a swing or watch someone slide a few thousand times while you're in a state of fatigue and semi-consciousness. Unfortunately I'd forgotten how short the attention spans of two- and five-year-olds can be. The swinging lasted about five minutes. The slide was exciting for seven minutes more. Then my charges wanted me to play a game with them. Instead I suggested a timed race. This worked for four minutes and ten seconds, which is how long it took the five-year-old to complete the running course I prescribed. Again they wanted to play hide and go seek with me. I explained I was tired and not feeling like playing a game. So the five-year-old said, "That's okay, David. You can hide and we'll look for you." Then the indefatigable child covered her eyes with her hands, counted to ten out loud, and walked away from where I was standing saying, "Now where could David have hidden. I don't see him anywhere." I burst out laughing. This child was going to play with me whether or not I participated. By the end of our game, Mom was finished with her work; and all of us could go home for a well deserved nap. This time, filled with the joy of childhood play, I slept very well.
© 2006 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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