R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn't taste good.” ~ Lucia Capocchione, art therapist, author

If you are on the journey of midlife divorce recovery; if you are trying to get over your sadness and despair and feelings of loss, you probably think play is a thing of the past. It depends a lot on where you are on your trip. For me, for more than a year, food didn’t taste good. And like the quote above, life itself didn’t “taste” good, either. I certainly didn’t feel playful. It was a struggle to get through the days. During the grieving part of this ordeal, don’t try to push yourself faster than you can go; be patient with yourself; don’t feel pressured by yourself or by others to move ahead more quickly than you can. But start trying to find joy in the little things. Start being aware of small pleasures. Slowly you will find your way back to joy and laughter. Play sometimes is seen as a little rebellious and maybe immature. But research shows that more positive discoveries are made by those with a playful, lighthearted attitude than those who are overly responsible and cautious. That’s why I encourage women just starting out on this journey of midlife divorce to figure out their “stage name.” Mine is Frisky Ridgewood. That in itself sounds fun and rebellious! It’s a small, but important step. Figure out your own stage name by going to www.midlifedivorcerecovery.com and click on the button by the book and scroll down to read portions of the book and get to The R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Stage Names. Take this one small playful step on the recovery path. If you already know your stage name, do something outrageous and playful in honor of your “stage personality” today! I’m already planning on some joy and fun for Frisky!

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” ~Acts 2:28 (NIV)