I have learned to escape my worries with bikes and kites. Currently, they're my two favorite toys.
Bikes remind me of my power to move faster and go farther.
Kites remind me of my power to fly higher.
Both make me feel like a kid again. I feel safer, braver, and more free.
Often, the worries of the world make me feel unsafe. While most of what happens is beyond my control, I still deeply care. Every bit of news launches me into a roller coaster of emotions. I want to do more for the world while simultaneously wanting to escape it all.
Our joys and toys give us balance.
My toys remind me that I don't have to solve everything to experience something wonderful. Play is not the opposite of productivity. We all need play to balance work.
Play is purposeful and productive. Play restores us. Play reconnects us. Play gives our brains a break.
A very wise friend once taught me:
“Attachment to this world makes it seem real
While detachment
Makes it wondrous play.”
Buddhism identifies attachment as a root cause of suffering. We try to control outcomes that were never ours to control. We become so attached to the seriousness of life that we forget life is also an experience to be enjoyed.
Life is a game. Earth is a playground designed for wondrous play. My bike helps me move through the world. My kite helps me rise above it.
Play doesn’t make problems disappear. Play helps us remember we are bigger than our problems.
We can be both responsible and playful. We can care deeply and let go.
It’s the reason why I love my bikes and my kites. Just like my life, they come with power assist. Unseen forces always make our lives easier. My bike goes farther when I recharge the battery. My kite flies higher with the wind.
Joys and toys make life wondrous play.
