I’m 14 years old and I’m on the trampoline at the gym ever since
on the trampoline at the gym ever since
on the trampoline at the gym ever since I was over eight this used to be my
I was over eight this used to be my
I was over eight this used to be my happy place my playground part of my DNA
happy place my playground part of my DNA
happy place my playground part of my DNA was actually rubber ball there’s just
was actually rubber ball there’s just
was actually rubber ball there’s just nothing I like better than bouncing and
nothing I like better than bouncing and
nothing I like better than bouncing and spinning and twisting and flipping and
spinning and twisting and flipping and
spinning and twisting and flipping and then when I was 12 I started to compete
then when I was 12 I started to compete
then when I was 12 I started to compete all of a sudden it was all like toes
all of a sudden it was all like toes
all of a sudden it was all like toes pointed legs straight stick the landing
pointed legs straight stick the landing
pointed legs straight stick the landing toes pointed legs straight stick the
toes pointed legs straight stick the
toes pointed legs straight stick the landing I started working out two to
landing I started working out two to
landing I started working out two to three hours a day and on weekends I’d be
three hours a day and on weekends I’d be
three hours a day and on weekends I’d be at meats and I just started to feel more
at meats and I just started to feel more
at meats and I just started to feel more and more pressure to win my playground
and more pressure to win my playground
and more pressure to win my playground had become a proving ground so here I am
had become a proving ground so here I am
had become a proving ground so here I am at the gym and bouncing away and I’m
at the gym and bouncing away and I’m
at the gym and bouncing away and I’m working on a twisting flip so I’m trying
working on a twisting flip so I’m trying
working on a twisting flip so I’m trying to get as high as I can up up up up and
to get as high as I can up up up up and
to get as high as I can up up up up and then I whip myself around but I don’t
then I whip myself around but I don’t
then I whip myself around but I don’t flip so I come down on my head I wake up
flip so I come down on my head I wake up
flip so I come down on my head I wake up in the hospital with a broken neck
in the hospital with a broken neck
in the hospital with a broken neck doctors tell me that I’m lucky not to be
doctors tell me that I’m lucky not to be
doctors tell me that I’m lucky not to be paralyzed but that my gymnastics career
paralyzed but that my gymnastics career
paralyzed but that my gymnastics career is over
is over
is over you know once I come home after a week
you know once I come home after a week
you know once I come home after a week in the hospital and I’m recovering in
in the hospital and I’m recovering in
in the hospital and I’m recovering in bed and I come out of shock I start to
bed and I come out of shock I start to
bed and I come out of shock I start to grasp my situation and I realized that
grasp my situation and I realized that
grasp my situation and I realized that it’s actually okay in fact I’m kind of
it’s actually okay in fact I’m kind of
it’s actually okay in fact I’m kind of relieved no more trying to get my
relieved no more trying to get my
relieved no more trying to get my bowlegged needs to touch no more not to
bowlegged needs to touch no more not to
bowlegged needs to touch no more not to the pit of my stomach the night before
the pit of my stomach the night before
the pit of my stomach the night before me no more pressure to win but I am
me no more pressure to win but I am
me no more pressure to win but I am still stuck in bed so and that’s pretty
still stuck in bed so and that’s pretty
still stuck in bed so and that’s pretty miserable so my mother brings me a big
miserable so my mother brings me a big
miserable so my mother brings me a big bag of clay and I scoop out big fistfuls
bag of clay and I scoop out big fistfuls
bag of clay and I scoop out big fistfuls and I start to make things I make these
and I start to make things I make these
and I start to make things I make these three-dimensional pointy star-like
three-dimensional pointy star-like
three-dimensional pointy star-like things and paint them bright colors and
things and paint them bright colors and
things and paint them bright colors and I call them miracles I make hundreds of
I call them miracles I make hundreds of
I call them miracles I make hundreds of them everybody who visits me receives a
them everybody who visits me receives a
them everybody who visits me receives a miracle but the real miracle
miracle but the real miracle
miracle but the real miracle is that I feel alive and free again I
is that I feel alive and free again I
is that I feel alive and free again I have a new
have a new
have a new playground in my imagination and
playground in my imagination and
playground in my imagination and creativity so five years later it’s the
creativity so five years later it’s the
creativity so five years later it’s the summer of my sophomore year in college
summer of my sophomore year in college
summer of my sophomore year in college and I hear about this dream job it’s an
and I hear about this dream job it’s an
and I hear about this dream job it’s an amazing like once-in-a-lifetime
amazing like once-in-a-lifetime
amazing like once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I think there’s no chance
opportunity I think there’s no chance
opportunity I think there’s no chance I’m gonna get it so well okay I figure
I’m gonna get it so well okay I figure
I’m gonna get it so well okay I figure I’ll give it a shot so I build this blue
I’ll give it a shot so I build this blue
I’ll give it a shot so I build this blue puppet crochet it and I put it in a box
puppet crochet it and I put it in a box
puppet crochet it and I put it in a box with a letter as if it’s applying for
with a letter as if it’s applying for
with a letter as if it’s applying for the job it says hello I’m Clyde I’m here
the job it says hello I’m Clyde I’m here
the job it says hello I’m Clyde I’m here to work where do I start
to work where do I start
to work where do I start Rach I get an interview we get an
Rach I get an interview we get an
Rach I get an interview we get an interview and a week later I get the
interview and a week later I get the
interview and a week later I get the call oh my god we got the job I’m 19
call oh my god we got the job I’m 19
call oh my god we got the job I’m 19 years old I moved to New York and start
years old I moved to New York and start
years old I moved to New York and start working for Sesame Street I can’t
working for Sesame Street I can’t
working for Sesame Street I can’t believe my life I mean I get to make
believe my life I mean I get to make
believe my life I mean I get to make something wacky every single day a
something wacky every single day a
something wacky every single day a chorus of singing bananas a basketball
chorus of singing bananas a basketball
chorus of singing bananas a basketball court for a worm a nose flute for
court for a worm a nose flute for
court for a worm a nose flute for snuffleupagus a band of beetles that
snuffleupagus a band of beetles that
snuffleupagus a band of beetles that sings letter B letter B letter B letter
sings letter B letter B letter B letter
sings letter B letter B letter B letter B for real the Muppet workshop is in
B for real the Muppet workshop is in
B for real the Muppet workshop is in this gorgeous
this gorgeous
this gorgeous wait workshop space it’s like the
wait workshop space it’s like the
wait workshop space it’s like the sunniest most beautiful atrium space
sunniest most beautiful atrium space
sunniest most beautiful atrium space it’s the crown of the Muppet
it’s the crown of the Muppet
it’s the crown of the Muppet headquarters and the highlight of any
headquarters and the highlight of any
headquarters and the highlight of any tour one day I’m working on a pressing
tour one day I’m working on a pressing
tour one day I’m working on a pressing blew through hot glue gun making cheese
blew through hot glue gun making cheese
blew through hot glue gun making cheese for a muppet pizza and I look up and
for a muppet pizza and I look up and
for a muppet pizza and I look up and there’s Michael Jackson going wow that’s
there’s Michael Jackson going wow that’s
there’s Michael Jackson going wow that’s amazing
amazing
amazing I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m
I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m
I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming I mean I don’t feel like
not dreaming I mean I don’t feel like
not dreaming I mean I don’t feel like I’m working I feel like I’m having fun
I’m working I feel like I’m having fun
I’m working I feel like I’m having fun and getting paid for it the next year
and getting paid for it the next year
and getting paid for it the next year the muppet Take Manhattan movie comes
the muppet Take Manhattan movie comes
the muppet Take Manhattan movie comes out and it’s a smashing
out and it’s a smashing
out and it’s a smashing success which makes the demands for a
success which makes the demands for a
success which makes the demands for a project per product’s explode so the
project per product’s explode so the
project per product’s explode so the licensing department grows and it
licensing department grows and it
licensing department grows and it expands and eats more space so the
expands and eats more space so the
expands and eats more space so the workshop has to move out of our
workshop has to move out of our
workshop has to move out of our beautiful sunny headquarters into this
beautiful sunny headquarters into this
beautiful sunny headquarters into this dingy gray box across town
dingy gray box across town
dingy gray box across town it’s like fluorescent lights and
it’s like fluorescent lights and
it’s like fluorescent lights and cockroaches so here we are we’re packing
cockroaches so here we are we’re packing
cockroaches so here we are we’re packing our boxes and it feels like a funeral
our boxes and it feels like a funeral
our boxes and it feels like a funeral like banished to the sweatshop of bloom
like banished to the sweatshop of bloom
like banished to the sweatshop of bloom we stopped getting visitors and we just
we stopped getting visitors and we just
we stopped getting visitors and we just start getting memos instead and lots of
start getting memos instead and lots of
start getting memos instead and lots of paperwork tons of paperwork all of a
paperwork tons of paperwork all of a
paperwork tons of paperwork all of a sudden I get that knot in the pit of my
sudden I get that knot in the pit of my
sudden I get that knot in the pit of my stomach again and I feel like toes
stomach again and I feel like toes
stomach again and I feel like toes pointed straight legs stick the landing
pointed straight legs stick the landing
pointed straight legs stick the landing once again my playground has become a
once again my playground has become a
once again my playground has become a proving ground so today I want to share
proving ground so today I want to share
proving ground so today I want to share with you why it is so vitally important
with you why it is so vitally important
with you why it is so vitally important that we restore our playgrounds and the
that we restore our playgrounds and the
that we restore our playgrounds and the four miracles that I found that made
four miracles that I found that made
four miracles that I found that made that possible why are we even talking
that possible why are we even talking
that possible why are we even talking about this because 200 years of the
about this because 200 years of the
about this because 200 years of the Protestant work ethic has us believing
Protestant work ethic has us believing
Protestant work ethic has us believing that plays a frivolous pastime the
that plays a frivolous pastime the
that plays a frivolous pastime the opposite of work in a distraction from
opposite of work in a distraction from
opposite of work in a distraction from serious business so playful spirits are
serious business so playful spirits are
serious business so playful spirits are getting bumped out of beautiful sunny
getting bumped out of beautiful sunny
getting bumped out of beautiful sunny atrium spaces and smashed into boxes
atrium spaces and smashed into boxes
atrium spaces and smashed into boxes every single day and we take it for
every single day and we take it for
every single day and we take it for granted like it’s just part of growing
granted like it’s just part of growing
granted like it’s just part of growing up or the cost of success but we’re
up or the cost of success but we’re
up or the cost of success but we’re wrong it couldn’t be more wrong or
wrong it couldn’t be more wrong or
wrong it couldn’t be more wrong or opposite in fact recent advances in
opposite in fact recent advances in
opposite in fact recent advances in flavor research have literally turned
flavor research have literally turned
flavor research have literally turned the work on thick on its head and taking
the work on thick on its head and taking
the work on thick on its head and taking a look inside and here’s what they see
play actually grows brains
play actually grows brains neuroscientists have found that rats who
neuroscientists have found that rats who
neuroscientists have found that rats who are play deprived have brains that are
are play deprived have brains that are
are play deprived have brains that are 20 to 30 percent smaller than the
20 to 30 percent smaller than the
20 to 30 percent smaller than the playful rats you can actually see on
playful rats you can actually see on
playful rats you can actually see on brain scans what a half hour of play
brain scans what a half hour of play
brain scans what a half hour of play looks like there’s actually nothing that
looks like there’s actually nothing that
looks like there’s actually nothing that produces as many positive emotions as
produces as many positive emotions as
produces as many positive emotions as play you get love joy excitement
play you get love joy excitement
play you get love joy excitement contentment optimism why
contentment optimism why
contentment optimism why under everything and we now know that
under everything and we now know that
under everything and we now know that this cocktail of endorphins benefits
this cocktail of endorphins benefits
this cocktail of endorphins benefits every area of our lives our immune
every area of our lives our immune
every area of our lives our immune systems our creativity problem-solving
systems our creativity problem-solving
systems our creativity problem-solving skills seniors who are play deprived
skills seniors who are play deprived
skills seniors who are play deprived they were found they had a greater
they were found they had a greater
they were found they had a greater health risk than smoking and obesity but
health risk than smoking and obesity but
health risk than smoking and obesity but this is just the top of the iceberg
this is just the top of the iceberg
this is just the top of the iceberg place benefits are so vast cognitively
place benefits are so vast cognitively
place benefits are so vast cognitively physically emotionally and socially that
physically emotionally and socially that
physically emotionally and socially that it’s like they’re superfood I call it
it’s like they’re superfood I call it
it’s like they’re superfood I call it the kale of behavior but some people
the kale of behavior but some people
the kale of behavior but some people don’t like kale so you can you know call
don’t like kale so you can you know call
don’t like kale so you can you know call it blueberries if you want but you know
it blueberries if you want but you know
it blueberries if you want but you know even this metaphor that it’s a superfood
even this metaphor that it’s a superfood
even this metaphor that it’s a superfood is actually misleading it makes it sound
is actually misleading it makes it sound
is actually misleading it makes it sound like play it’s just really really good
like play it’s just really really good
like play it’s just really really good for you when actually our survival
for you when actually our survival
for you when actually our survival depends on it I mean the play drive is
depends on it I mean the play drive is
depends on it I mean the play drive is actually located deep in the primitive
actually located deep in the primitive
actually located deep in the primitive brain alongside with sleeping and
brain alongside with sleeping and
brain alongside with sleeping and breathing if you were to make a list of
breathing if you were to make a list of
breathing if you were to make a list of breathing’s benefits it’d be at least
breathing’s benefits it’d be at least
breathing’s benefits it’d be at least this long so every survival instinct is
this long so every survival instinct is
this long so every survival instinct is a superfood and while we may be able to
a superfood and while we may be able to
a superfood and while we may be able to hold our play longer than we can hold
hold our play longer than we can hold
hold our play longer than we can hold our breaths eventually we will perish we
our breaths eventually we will perish we
our breaths eventually we will perish we will fail to thrive as Stephen Jay Gould
will fail to thrive as Stephen Jay Gould
will fail to thrive as Stephen Jay Gould said sloppiness broad potential
said sloppiness broad potential
said sloppiness broad potential perkiness unpredictability and above all
perkiness unpredictability and above all
perkiness unpredictability and above all massive redundancy the keys flexibility
massive redundancy the keys flexibility
massive redundancy the keys flexibility not precision that’s what evolution
not precision that’s what evolution
not precision that’s what evolution consists of in other words it plays
consists of in other words it plays
consists of in other words it plays that’s how we got an invisible gas
that’s how we got an invisible gas
that’s how we got an invisible gas hydrogen to turn into the Milky Way
hydrogen to turn into the Milky Way
hydrogen to turn into the Milky Way galaxy
galaxy
galaxy that’s broccoli over there bulldog and
that’s broccoli over there bulldog and
that’s broccoli over there bulldog and an iPhone in just 13.7 billion years not
an iPhone in just 13.7 billion years not
an iPhone in just 13.7 billion years not straight legs pointed toes and stuck
straight legs pointed toes and stuck
straight legs pointed toes and stuck landings but big messes extravagant
landings but big messes extravagant
landings but big messes extravagant experimentation and unbounded free play
experimentation and unbounded free play
experimentation and unbounded free play and yet we’re squeezing it out of our
and yet we’re squeezing it out of our
and yet we’re squeezing it out of our lives at an alarming rate
lives at an alarming rate
lives at an alarming rate children are working ten and a half hour
children are working ten and a half hour
children are working ten and a half hour days they play an average of 11 hours a
days they play an average of 11 hours a
days they play an average of 11 hours a week and adults are even worse according
week and adults are even worse according
week and adults are even worse according to Harvard Business School survey 94% of
to Harvard Business School survey 94% of
to Harvard Business School survey 94% of professionals work at least 50 hours a
professionals work at least 50 hours a
professionals work at least 50 hours a week
week
week half of them work more than 65 hours a
half of them work more than 65 hours a
half of them work more than 65 hours a week I mean this is crazy we’re wired
week I mean this is crazy we’re wired
week I mean this is crazy we’re wired for play our survival depends on it so
for play our survival depends on it so
for play our survival depends on it so why are we paving over the playground at
why are we paving over the playground at
why are we paving over the playground at such an alarming rate attachment theory
such an alarming rate attachment theory
such an alarming rate attachment theory is one of the most widely accepted
is one of the most widely accepted
is one of the most widely accepted frameworks for understanding human
frameworks for understanding human
frameworks for understanding human development and it tells us it gives us
development and it tells us it gives us
development and it tells us it gives us a good clue about what’s going on it
a good clue about what’s going on it
a good clue about what’s going on it tells us that our well-being boils down
tells us that our well-being boils down
tells us that our well-being boils down to one fundamental thing the security we
to one fundamental thing the security we
to one fundamental thing the security we experience emotionally with the
experience emotionally with the
experience emotionally with the caretakers in her life key relationships
caretakers in her life key relationships
caretakers in her life key relationships during the first few years of our lives
during the first few years of our lives
during the first few years of our lives nothing is more important than that
nothing is more important than that
nothing is more important than that connection it determines not only our
connection it determines not only our
connection it determines not only our health but how we see the world as a
health but how we see the world as a
health but how we see the world as a whole our worldview if we got consistent
whole our worldview if we got consistent
whole our worldview if we got consistent emotional support then we’re likely to
emotional support then we’re likely to
emotional support then we’re likely to experience a world that’s full of
experience a world that’s full of
experience a world that’s full of opportunities and playmates and
opportunities and playmates and
opportunities and playmates and adventures but if that support was less
adventures but if that support was less
adventures but if that support was less reliable we’re likely to see life as a
reliable we’re likely to see life as a
reliable we’re likely to see life as a perpetual test where we have to
perpetual test where we have to
perpetual test where we have to constantly earn our security and
constantly earn our security and
constantly earn our security and approval through achievement or status
approval through achievement or status
approval through achievement or status and if in a more extreme case we are
and if in a more extreme case we are
and if in a more extreme case we are caregivers were absent or unsafe then
caregivers were absent or unsafe then
caregivers were absent or unsafe then we’re likely to see life as being full
we’re likely to see life as being full
we’re likely to see life as being full of threats that we have to insistently
of threats that we have to insistently
of threats that we have to insistently protect and defend ourselves from so we
protect and defend ourselves from so we
protect and defend ourselves from so we play to the extent that we feel held and
play to the extent that we feel held and
play to the extent that we feel held and safe if we aren’t playing it’s because
safe if we aren’t playing it’s because
safe if we aren’t playing it’s because we don’t feel safe so attachment wounds
we don’t feel safe so attachment wounds
we don’t feel safe so attachment wounds aren’t just limited to individuals
aren’t just limited to individuals
aren’t just limited to individuals societies have them too so even if we
societies have them too so even if we
societies have them too so even if we got the benefit of a secure base we’re
got the benefit of a secure base we’re
got the benefit of a secure base we’re likely to grow up in a society
likely to grow up in a society
likely to grow up in a society it’s disconnected it just reads
it’s disconnected it just reads
it’s disconnected it just reads insecurity but here’s the good news
insecurity but here’s the good news
insecurity but here’s the good news there’s a counter trend we’re now seeing
there’s a counter trend we’re now seeing
there’s a counter trend we’re now seeing more and more books come out that
more and more books come out that
more and more books come out that feature the benefits of play a lot of
feature the benefits of play a lot of
feature the benefits of play a lot of them bestsellers I counted recently 200
them bestsellers I counted recently 200
them bestsellers I counted recently 200 now over 250 adult coloring books on
now over 250 adult coloring books on
now over 250 adult coloring books on amazon.com and plays also big theme in
amazon.com and plays also big theme in
amazon.com and plays also big theme in business especially Silicon Valley we
business especially Silicon Valley we
business especially Silicon Valley we now know that ping-pong table sales are
now know that ping-pong table sales are
now know that ping-pong table sales are an index for the health of the tech
an index for the health of the tech
an index for the health of the tech economy so we’re starting to get it play
economy so we’re starting to get it play
economy so we’re starting to get it play good but let’s face it dropping a
good but let’s face it dropping a
good but let’s face it dropping a ping-pong table at a culture that’s
ping-pong table at a culture that’s
ping-pong table at a culture that’s cutthroat and full of fear it’s not
cutthroat and full of fear it’s not
cutthroat and full of fear it’s not going to suddenly turn it into a joyous
going to suddenly turn it into a joyous
going to suddenly turn it into a joyous playground but the real problem is it’s
playground but the real problem is it’s
playground but the real problem is it’s not just that we don’t play enough it’s
not just that we don’t play enough it’s
not just that we don’t play enough it’s that we get caught in the insecure
that we get caught in the insecure
that we get caught in the insecure achievement mindset of the proving
achievement mindset of the proving
achievement mindset of the proving ground and just playing more isn’t going
ground and just playing more isn’t going
ground and just playing more isn’t going to get us off of it so what will is it
to get us off of it so what will is it
to get us off of it so what will is it even possible and the pressures of
even possible and the pressures of
even possible and the pressures of modern life luckily thank goodness it is
modern life luckily thank goodness it is
modern life luckily thank goodness it is just try to imagine being the spiritual
just try to imagine being the spiritual
just try to imagine being the spiritual leader of a country that’s going through
leader of a country that’s going through
leader of a country that’s going through cultural genocide everyone’s looking to
cultural genocide everyone’s looking to
cultural genocide everyone’s looking to you for spiritual guidance and still
you for spiritual guidance and still
you for spiritual guidance and still having joy and peace in your heart and
having joy and peace in your heart and
having joy and peace in your heart and nothing to prove I’ve heard the Dalai
nothing to prove I’ve heard the Dalai
nothing to prove I’ve heard the Dalai Lama a few times and I never forget I
Lama a few times and I never forget I
Lama a few times and I never forget I never remember what he says but I never
never remember what he says but I never
never remember what he says but I never forget his eagle and he’s one example
forget his eagle and he’s one example
forget his eagle and he’s one example but there are many in fact almost all
but there are many in fact almost all
but there are many in fact almost all the spiritually mature people I know are
the spiritually mature people I know are
the spiritually mature people I know are playful their playfulness is an
playful their playfulness is an
playful their playfulness is an expression of their freedom which comes
expression of their freedom which comes
expression of their freedom which comes from a deep sense of security and safety
from a deep sense of security and safety
from a deep sense of security and safety which is something I don’t have much of
which is something I don’t have much of
which is something I don’t have much of it certainly in my 20s and 30s after I
it certainly in my 20s and 30s after I
it certainly in my 20s and 30s after I leave Sesame Street I work on one
leave Sesame Street I work on one
leave Sesame Street I work on one creative project after another and every
creative project after another and every
creative project after another and every single one of them starts out full of
single one of them starts out full of
single one of them starts out full of excitement and possibilities but
excitement and possibilities but
excitement and possibilities but eventually they all become these
eventually they all become these
eventually they all become these grueling rhymes I seem to have this
grueling rhymes I seem to have this
grueling rhymes I seem to have this special gift
special gift
special gift turning possibly the funnest projects in
turning possibly the funnest projects in
turning possibly the funnest projects in the world into stress traps I am the
the world into stress traps I am the
the world into stress traps I am the luckiest most miserable person I know
luckiest most miserable person I know
luckiest most miserable person I know and then it dawns on me that I’m the one
and then it dawns on me that I’m the one
and then it dawns on me that I’m the one bringing the proving ground with me
bringing the proving ground with me
bringing the proving ground with me wherever I go
wherever I go
wherever I go and I look around me and I see that the
and I look around me and I see that the
and I look around me and I see that the world is full of provers and the head
world is full of provers and the head
world is full of provers and the head lers and that it’s not only destroying
lers and that it’s not only destroying
lers and that it’s not only destroying our lives it’s devastating the planet so
our lives it’s devastating the planet so
our lives it’s devastating the planet so then I become really interested in how
then I become really interested in how
then I become really interested in how to restore playgrounds and I wonder if
to restore playgrounds and I wonder if
to restore playgrounds and I wonder if when we’re free we’re free to play then
when we’re free we’re free to play then
when we’re free we’re free to play then can we also play our way free is play
can we also play our way free is play
can we also play our way free is play both the path and the destination and if
both the path and the destination and if
both the path and the destination and if so how this question really grabs my
so how this question really grabs my
so how this question really grabs my interest so I set out to learn
interest so I set out to learn
interest so I set out to learn everything I can about the
everything I can about the
everything I can about the transformative power of play I cast my
transformative power of play I cast my
transformative power of play I cast my net really wide and I study every study
net really wide and I study every study
net really wide and I study every study everything from clowning to cosmology
everything from clowning to cosmology
everything from clowning to cosmology philosophy to theater improv and here’s
philosophy to theater improv and here’s
philosophy to theater improv and here’s what I find out here’s what I learned I
what I find out here’s what I learned I
what I find out here’s what I learned I am looking for miracles and I find for
am looking for miracles and I find for
am looking for miracles and I find for rest if we’re going to make the play a
rest if we’re going to make the play a
rest if we’re going to make the play a priority we have to make and rest a
priority we have to make and rest a
priority we have to make and rest a priority most of us have been proving or
priority most of us have been proving or
priority most of us have been proving or battling for decades we’re exhausted
battling for decades we’re exhausted
battling for decades we’re exhausted more exhausted than we even know so like
more exhausted than we even know so like
more exhausted than we even know so like one week in bed is a good start doing
one week in bed is a good start doing
one week in bed is a good start doing absolutely nothing after I spend a week
absolutely nothing after I spend a week
absolutely nothing after I spend a week in bed I finally start to feel like I
in bed I finally start to feel like I
in bed I finally start to feel like I got a good night’s sleep which is a
got a good night’s sleep which is a
got a good night’s sleep which is a miracle but you know as soon as we start
miracle but you know as soon as we start
miracle but you know as soon as we start resting difficult if painful feelings
resting difficult if painful feelings
resting difficult if painful feelings are likely to come up so miracle number
are likely to come up so miracle number
are likely to come up so miracle number two is welcoming everything that I like
two is welcoming everything that I like
two is welcoming everything that I like to think of it as like having big loving
to think of it as like having big loving
to think of it as like having big loving momma arms that are just embracing
momma arms that are just embracing
momma arms that are just embracing reality as it unfolds and then hugging
reality as it unfolds and then hugging
reality as it unfolds and then hugging me so that I feel safe enough to
me so that I feel safe enough to
me so that I feel safe enough to experience all of it
experience all of it
experience all of it I mean that doesn’t mean a greenway
I mean that doesn’t mean a greenway
I mean that doesn’t mean a greenway they’re condoning everything what’s
they’re condoning everything what’s
they’re condoning everything what’s happening definitely not but it does
happening definitely not but it does
happening definitely not but it does mean letting it all move through me and
mean letting it all move through me and
mean letting it all move through me and not stuffing it away in the box cuz when
not stuffing it away in the box cuz when
not stuffing it away in the box cuz when we do our playful spirit goes with it so
we do our playful spirit goes with it so
we do our playful spirit goes with it so when I do let myself feel everything I
when I do let myself feel everything I
when I do let myself feel everything I feel much lighter and more playful and
feel much lighter and more playful and
feel much lighter and more playful and freer and that’s a miracle miracle
freer and that’s a miracle miracle
freer and that’s a miracle miracle number three follow your joy that just
number three follow your joy that just
number three follow your joy that just means only doing something if it gives
means only doing something if it gives
means only doing something if it gives you joy if I’ve had a proving ground
you joy if I’ve had a proving ground
you joy if I’ve had a proving ground crash I usually start with a low-hanging
crash I usually start with a low-hanging
crash I usually start with a low-hanging fruit like snuggling with my dog eating
fruit like snuggling with my dog eating
fruit like snuggling with my dog eating mangoes and cashews or listening to
mangoes and cashews or listening to
mangoes and cashews or listening to music and listening to music leads to
music and listening to music leads to
music and listening to music leads to swaying which leads to dancing which
swaying which leads to dancing which
swaying which leads to dancing which leads to dancing like a maniac
leads to dancing like a maniac
leads to dancing like a maniac it’s a miracle of course it’s easy when
it’s a miracle of course it’s easy when
it’s a miracle of course it’s easy when we’re not under pressure but when we are
we’re not under pressure but when we are
we’re not under pressure but when we are following your joy means listening
following your joy means listening
following your joy means listening carefully to the signals that tell you
carefully to the signals that tell you
carefully to the signals that tell you when to stop when to take a break when
when to stop when to take a break when
when to stop when to take a break when to what to eat of course it’s hard to
to what to eat of course it’s hard to
to what to eat of course it’s hard to hear them sometimes they can be very
hear them sometimes they can be very
hear them sometimes they can be very quiet so we have to pay very close
quiet so we have to pay very close
quiet so we have to pay very close attention this guy needs a song he lives
attention this guy needs a song he lives
attention this guy needs a song he lives inside my head so there’s no chance I’m
inside my head so there’s no chance I’m
inside my head so there’s no chance I’m gonna hear those signals until he calms
gonna hear those signals until he calms
gonna hear those signals until he calms down but once he does we get the fourth
down but once he does we get the fourth
down but once he does we get the fourth miracle practice mindfulness that means
miracle practice mindfulness that means
miracle practice mindfulness that means sitting still letting yourself settle
sitting still letting yourself settle
sitting still letting yourself settle down and then just bringing awareness to
down and then just bringing awareness to
down and then just bringing awareness to all the thoughts feelings and sensations
all the thoughts feelings and sensations
all the thoughts feelings and sensations as they arise now I think of this as
as they arise now I think of this as
as they arise now I think of this as like the mega mega miracle or the kale
like the mega mega miracle or the kale
like the mega mega miracle or the kale of miracles because it consists of all
of miracles because it consists of all
of miracles because it consists of all the others it lets you rest deeply you
the others it lets you rest deeply you
the others it lets you rest deeply you have more space to welcome everything
have more space to welcome everything
have more space to welcome everything and it helps you follow your joy and
and it helps you follow your joy and
and it helps you follow your joy and when you do
when you do
when you do that gray box starts to dissolve and you
that gray box starts to dissolve and you
that gray box starts to dissolve and you end up in that beautiful sunny atrium
end up in that beautiful sunny atrium
end up in that beautiful sunny atrium space called the present moment the
space called the present moment the
space called the present moment the present moment is the only doorway to
present moment is the only doorway to
present moment is the only doorway to the playground and it’s where all the
the playground and it’s where all the
the playground and it’s where all the miracles come from so I’ve been in play
miracles come from so I’ve been in play
miracles come from so I’ve been in play rehab for about three years and let’s
rehab for about three years and let’s
rehab for about three years and let’s face it it’s a slippery slope I I mean
face it it’s a slippery slope I I mean
face it it’s a slippery slope I I mean this is this a TED talk it’s like crack
this is this a TED talk it’s like crack
this is this a TED talk it’s like crack for proving ground junkies this is like
for proving ground junkies this is like
for proving ground junkies this is like the 27th version of my TED talk but it’s
the 27th version of my TED talk but it’s
the 27th version of my TED talk but it’s okay because the whole process of
okay because the whole process of
okay because the whole process of learning and sharing it with others is
learning and sharing it with others is
learning and sharing it with others is my new playground and guess what you’re
my new playground and guess what you’re
my new playground and guess what you’re in it so let’s all wiggle our toes come
in it so let’s all wiggle our toes come
in it so let’s all wiggle our toes come on shake your legs relax legs and let’s
on shake your legs relax legs and let’s
on shake your legs relax legs and let’s land gently in this miraculous moment
land gently in this miraculous moment
land gently in this miraculous moment together thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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