Why Creative Play Isn't Selfish. It's Coming Home to Yourself.

When was the last time you did something just because you wanted to?

Not because it was useful, or because it was on your to-do list or because someone else needed you.

Just because you thought, "Ooh... that looks like fun!"

If you're anything like the women I guide, your brain probably responded with:

"Who's got time for fun?"

Somewhere along the way, we became experts at putting ourselves last. Behind our partner, the kids and even the family pet??

When did we become:

The family diary.

The snack supplier.

The birthday rememberer.

The appointment maker.

The finder of everyone's missing glasses.

(Seriously... why are we always the ones who know where everything is?)

We spend our days making sure everyone else is ok.

And somewhere between folding washing, replying to messages, and wondering what's for dinner for the 4,327th time, we quietly stopped asking ourselves one very simple question...

What would I enjoy doing today? 

Creative play is usually the first thing to disappear - not because we stop loving it but because it feels... optional.

Telling ourselves it's something we'll get to one day.

You know... after the house is spotless, the inbox is empty, and someone invents a washing basket that folds its own laundry.

Hmmmmm ... sort of never.

Often the women who come to my workshops get all apologetic. I hear the same comments ...

"I'm not creative."

"I haven't painted since school."

"You'll have to help me... I'm absolutely hopeless."

Then something magical happens about ten minutes in, they forget to apologise.

They're too busy deciding between turquoise and teal.

They're comparing painty fingers.

They're laughing because someone accidentally made a bird that now looks suspiciously like a grumpy duck. They begin to embrace the idea of making 'ish' things.  Like flower'ish, house'ish, portrait'ish and fish'ish :)

They're playing.

And that's when I realise it was never really about learning how to paint - it's all about permission.

Permission to spend two whole hours doing something that doesn't benefit anyone else.

No packed lunches are being made.

No emails are being answered.

No one is asking where their favourite jumper is.

For a little while, it's just you.

Years ago, I used to scuba dive, and one thing fascinated me every single time.

The surface of the sea could be wild.

Wind.

Waves.

Splashing.

Complete chaos.

But a few metres below?

Stillness.

I remember looking up at the underside of the waves and thinking how strange it was that the same ocean could feel completely different depending on where you were.

Life is a bit like that.

Most days we're bobbing around on the surface, trying to keep all the balls in the air.

Creative play gives us permission to dive beneath it for a while.

Not to escape our lives.

Just to remember there's more to us than our endless list of jobs.

Because here's what I know.

You are allowed to spend time on something simply because it brings you joy.

You don't have to justify it.

You don't have to earn it.

You don't have to finish every job in the house first.

(If that's the rule, none of us are ever painting.)

So here's my invitation.

For the next four weeks, I'd love to help you make a little space for yourself.

As a subscriber, you can enjoy 40% off all of my online courses until the end of July using the code ARTOFPLAY.

Choose the course that's been quietly whispering your name.

Put the kettle on.

Ignore the washing for an hour.

I promise it'll still be there afterwards.

Your creativity, though? She's been patiently waiting for you.

Use ARTOFPLAY at checkout and give yourself permission to play.

I have a feeling everyone else will survive without you for a couple of hours.

And you just might remember a part of yourself you've been missing.

Go on - you so deserve it lovely.

Much love

Angela xx