Power of Play
POWER OF PLAY (POP!)
Through simple processes, we experience how lightening up stimulates ideas flowing in imaginative, creative and fun ways, and increases our awareness of:
(1) health benefits of laughter (gelatology),
(2) how playfulness stimulates people connection.
(3) relationship of spontaneity with intuition and creativity.
And leave feeling revived, energized and lighter.
THE POWER OF YES!
Every day, life tosses up “offers,” some of which we’d happily skip. When, however, we playfully practice saying YES! to each other’s “offers”, surprising, wonderful adventures, creativity, community connection, and inspiration can occur.
BENEFITS
Spirituality
Connection to others
Healing & health
Creativity!
Testimonials
Participants’ Comments for Power Of Play
Presentations, Workshops and Conferences
These 4 categories of comments are from participants’ anonymous feedback sheets:
1. COMMENTS RE COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The heightened sense of community!
I’m shy about groups, but within the first two minutes you had me feeling connected with these people.
The conference took on a new atmosphere after this session. Friendliness, chatty and sharing—great just before lunch.
Most important—seeing how a group of strangers can be laughing and having fun in such a short space of time.
I feel revitalized—enveloped with friendliness from people I’ve never met before.
Accepting of others, realizing that we are responsible for creating our world.
Listening to other people’s contributions and creating my own.
Realizing that my inner child IS happy and comfortable here in the group AND can be, with encouragement, away from here.
High point: to actually open your heart when looking to someone else.
High point was listening to other people’s humor and discovering my own.
The freedom to be ourselves and made comfortable.
High point was being able to join in and participate fully in a group situation as I often avoid groups due to shyness/reservation.
Realizing that I can interact with people from all walks of life…that I can be myself.
Meeting other people…Chance to just “be” “me.”
Realizing I’m OK. Feeling solidarity with other participants.
2. COMMENTS RE SELF-AWARENESS
Most useful: finding the person behind the barriers.
Most useful–affirming that we are entitled to have fun. It’s our birthright.
Thank you for giving me new insight.
Low point: Realizing how hard I make life for myself.
Most Important: Hearing Barbara’s story. It made me realize being a fun person can be learned and fostered, rather than the thought that you either have it or you don’t.
High point: finding that yet again it was worth saying YES and getting out of the comfort zone.
Learning that the power of laughing and letting go is always in me.
Challenging and yet not confronting.
Highpoint: The reassurance that I do do these things in general day living.
Practical aspects were great. Fun and thought-provoking.
Fabulous time for awakening.
A really great kick-start for some changes I really need to make—to make my life happier, more exuberant.
High point: Learning that I don’t have to be part of a couple to be happy.
A real eye-opener into what could be—the possibilities that exist to bring joy into my life.
Great to get us thinking about what we had lost.
It made me realize that I haven’t been saying YES to my life. I’m taking back my power, and if feels wonderful.
The most important thing was getting realizations about myself through play.
Most useful: interaction with others. I’m not so different after all!!
This energy could last a lifetime!
A real eye-opener to what could be—the possibilities that exist to bring joy into my life
The genie is out of the bottle and I can’t go back!
3. PHYSICAL CHANGES
My body got still. (Parkinsons Patient)
It’s the first time in two years that I haven’t thought about my body. (Parkinsons Patient)
My headache’s gone!
Fun and shows importance of mindset in health
I’m relaxed.
I feel energized!
I haven’t laughed like this since I got cancer.
This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time! Cancer Patient
4. COMMENTS RE JOY / IMAGINATION
Positive, reinforcing the child, the bubble of joy I have at my centre.
Informative and lots of fun — Inspiring.
Highlight was reminding me of the power of creative play to access the imagination.
Want a whole day! A whole weekend!
The best party I’ve been to for ages. Hugh O’Connell, 87, resident, Broughton Hall Retirement Center, Camberwell.
Lots of good stuff to fire the imagination
Sheer bloody fun!
Lots of fun, yet nice and gentle.
Enjoyable session—fun and uplifting.
Have done numerous ventures and found this one Very Exciting!
The high point was really letting go and being free to be me.
Brought a well-presented brightness to the 2-day proceedings.
Brilliant, innovative, colorful—let go!
Great laugh—got me out of myself.
It unblocked my writer’s block.
Magically inspiring! Informative and lots of fun.
~~~
QRWN (Queensland Rural Women’s Network) retreat at Bunya Mountains, March 2012
Karen Seilor, Convenor
“Nearly 100% of women found these sessions to be significantly relevant and of very high quality. It was unique in that most women had not experienced anything like it and their comments were extremely positive. Common comments were, “amazing, excellent, inspiring, uplifting, sensational, and exceptional.” One of the major objectives of the retreat was to help women recover from disaster and it seems laughter was really the best medicine!“
Other glowing endorsements included:
“She made me come out of my protective shell”
‘She made us feel valued in ourself”
‘My childhood happiness returned”
“This energy could last a lifetime”
“I now feel more confident and open to mixing and meeting new people”
‘She showed me the importance of fun for positive energy”
“She invited the inner child to come out and play”
“Utterly fun and uplifting”
“She gave me permission to really laugh”
‘She allowed me to laugh and play more than anyone else”
‘An ability to make everyone feel wonderful”
~~~
Boorowa NSW Farm Women, 2007
Leanne Leihn – Boorowa Council – April 2007
“Everyone is still raving about the International Women’s Day event for farm women. Thanks to your contribution of sharing your life experiences and pertinent information they have all had much to consider. I heard back from a range of women who said you were telling their story and it provided reassurance that people can choose to come out smiling on the other side of disaster. One evaluation actually said that they now accept ‘change as a challenge’ which made the day worth it.”
~~~
QRRRWN/AWIA River of Life Conference, September 2012
Carolyn Stone, QRRRWN Board
“Thank you for our dedication and support to the QRRRWN/AWIA River of Life Conference in St George. Your enthusiasm and commitment certainly guaranteed a very successful conference. You are truly an inspiration to so many.”