YOUR BODY CALLED. IT WANTS TO PLAY.

At 62—almost 63 on October 3rd—I’m having my best childhood.

I’m playing. Laughing. Resting. Sleeping. Dancing like no one’s watching. Yelling. Being ridiculous.

And basically, doing whatever the fuck I want.

Ooh. Did your shoulders tense a little when you read that?

Mine did just writing it.

I almost deleted it.

Then I thought, Screw that. I’m being honest.

Because after a lifetime of doing what I should do, I’m finally asking:

What the hell do I WANT to do?

WHEN DID WE GET SO DAMN SERIOUS?

I have a serious question for you:

When was the last time you did something completely fucking pointless?

Not productive.

Not good for your health.

Not because your kids wanted to.

Not because it was on your calendar.

Not because you could turn it into a post, project, goal, side hustle, or freakin’ learning opportunity.

Just because it was FUN.

Can’t remember?

Yeah. We need to talk.

GOOD GIRLS DON'T JUMP IN PUDDLES

The first pillar of Ignited Leadership is Story is a Leadership Tool.

And we’ve been told a shit-ton of stories about how grown women are supposed to behave:

Be quiet.

Be productive.

Get it done.

Take yourself seriously if you want others to.

Act your age.

Don’t take up too much space.

Take care of everyone else first.

And, of course:

You can rest when you’re dead.

For most of my life, I drank the cultural Kool-Aid.

And damn, did I get shit done.

I helped raise three glorious human beings. I had a 30-plus-year career I loved at UC San Diego. I worked out, cooked meals, did laundry, ran errands, drove three kids all over creation, and checked things off lists like a motherfucking champion.

My life ran on a schedule largely dictated by everyone but me.

Sound familiar?

THERE WAS A WILD CHILD UNDER THERE

I told myself I didn't have time to be silly.

Fun was frivolous. Play was wasting time.

Besides, what would people think?

Look at that crazy broad.

She has a family. A job. Responsibilities.

She’s embarrassing.

Cringe.

And back then, I cared.

But occasionally, the wild child escaped.

I did cartwheels on the sand.

I Riverdanced with Todd Galati at work meetings.

I screamed and flailed around at a Kenny Loggins concert with my sister and mom.

I walked into the ocean wearing my prom dress.

I screamed like a banshee at my kids’ volleyball and water polo games.

She was in there all along.

MY BODY WANTS TO PLAY

These days?

I don't give a flying fornication what anyone thinks.

Those old rules were stories.

Other people's stories. Not mine.

I'm writing my own now.

And I'm listening to my body.

Turns out, she doesn't only tell me when something is wrong.

She tells me when something feels fucking fantastic.

She wants to jump in rain puddles.

Finger paint.

Howl at the moon.

Swing on swings.

Play dress-up.

Dance badly.

Laugh loudly.

Do things for absolutely no reason.

WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO EARN JOY?

We've spent the last few weeks talking about the stories we're told and learning to listen to our bodies.

But maybe our bodies aren't always whispering profound truths.

Maybe sometimes they're simply saying:

Put down the to-do list and GO PLAY.

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that children play. Men have hobbies. Women have responsibilities.

Hell, we even make our fun productive.

We exercise for fitness.

Join book clubs with discussion questions.

Garden to grow vegetables.

Make crafts and then open an Etsy shop.

For the love of Pete, can we just do something because we like it?

What if you didn't have to earn joy?

FOLLOW THE OTHER COMPASS

Instead of only asking:

What is my body warning me about?

Try asking:

What is my body drawn toward?

What makes you laugh until your stomach hurts?

What makes you forget your phone?

What makes you feel ten years old again?

What makes you lose track of time?

What makes your body feel lighter?

What makes you say:

Again!

Your body is still your compass.

We're just following it toward pleasure, joy, and aliveness instead of pain.

HELL YES IS LEADERSHIP, TOO

Ignited Leadership isn't only having the courage to say NO when your body tightens.

It's having the courage to say HELL YES when your body lights up.

Yes to the dance class.

Yes to karaoke.

Yes to buying the motorcycle.

Yes to jumping in the ocean.

Yes to wearing something ridiculous.

Yes to learning pickleball and sucking at it.

Yes to the road trip.

Yes to making art nobody will ever see.

Yes to laughing way too loudly.

Yes to embarrassing yourself.

Yes to joy.

Because when you've spent a lifetime being taught to behave, joy can be Good Trouble.

And play?

Play can be an act of leadership.

I'm the leader of my life now.

And I've never felt freer, more myself, or ready to play.

COME PLAY WITH US

Speaking of FUN…

This October, we're launching our free Ignited Leadership Circles—90 minutes to step away from the noise, connect with other women, tell the truth, laugh, play, and practice becoming the leader of your own life.

No performing.

No preparation.

No PowerPoints.

Just come as you are.

Our first Circles are October 15 and October 29.

READY TO JOIN THE CIRCLE?

It’s free. There’s a place for you here.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.loudergirl.com/gatherings