22 Comments
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Patti Parks's avatar

I love this! A good reminder to just be yourself and do what makes you happy ... don't worry about what others think (something I've struggled with my whole life). Time to play!!

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

Exactly! Trust me, I have struggled with that too. Even now, sometimes going to the gym to lift weights (something I love doing!) brings up that insecurity. We just have to ground ourselves in play, as many times as it takes.

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Patti Parks's avatar

You will laugh at this ... a few years ago my husband and I were taking a walk and I said "Let's skip!" So we held hands and skipped. We were in our 50's then. Maybe it's time to skip again!

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

YES!! My wife and I do this too sometimes! We also gallop just for fun, and trust me - it’s loads of fun.

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Life as Women Laughing's avatar

Play play play, yes, please. We all need more of that. Thanks to our snow day today, the pups and I will have our fill and more.

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

Yessss snow day! It's so funny to me how much dogs love snow. Pants runs around like a wild animal, chomping at the snow. She's originally from Texas, so I don't think she's seen a lot of the magical white stuff from the sky.

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Life as Women Laughing's avatar

This is our first snow in 3 years so...the pups are happy. It's the first snow for our younger pup and she did not hesitate to frolic and embrace it. I hope you and Pants have some snow this winter!

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

I bet your little pup was SO HAPPY!! I’m also hoping for snow, though I think a lot of my fellow PNW-ers would be pretty upset with me for that. 😆

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Life as Women Laughing's avatar

Soo happy!

Yeah, I guess if snow is a regular thing it's different 😄. We are in the Southeast so....it's a treat here 🩵

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Kristin Rosenbach's avatar

We love to play truffle hunting and I have a dance break with the dogs as one of my Alexa routines. As soon as the song starts, MacGyver is up and ready to boogie.

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

I love all of this! Such perfect examples!

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Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Yes to all of this! And I love me some Pants 🤣❤️

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

Pants loves you too!

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Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Aw shucks

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Jacquie's avatar

Love the idea of reframing to play. So much (too much) striving makes for a dull life and geez, do I hate exercise!!! I ran long distances for decades and loved it, but haven't found anything as enjoyable since I had to stop. I did love to watch my Dogo (all 115 pounds of her) run and sail over the dogs at the dog park; it was beautiful to watch and the sheer exuberance and joy she experienced were contagious. This post was a great reminder to reclaim the joy and exuberance in moving my body. Adult dodgeball would certainly be fun! Back to play, yay!

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

Woop woop heck yes! When you figure out what play is for you, I'd love to hear what it is. What kind of dog did you have? Must have been a beauty!

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Jacquie's avatar

Absolutely! A Dogo Argentino and she was quite the beauty... and quietly sassy like her mama! LOL

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Rebecca P's avatar

Hey I recognize that rock! Grew up nearby. My dog always went nuts as soon as we hit the sand, she embodied joy. I love this post, such a great reminder that movement is joy.

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

Well hey, fellow Oregonian! Thanks so much for your comment, and for reading!

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Kaarin Marx Smith's avatar

Needed now more than ever!! I can't read any more...I'm heading outside to...PLAY!

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Chloe Ackerman, PsyD (she/her)'s avatar

When I think of people who know how to make exercise into play, I think of you. You scale mountains and seek out vistas for the pure joy of it. You got this down!

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Cindy Ojczyk's avatar

Playing tug with Shiloh. Watching the foster cats chase the Cat Dancer toy. Hiking with my family. A lazy summer day at the beach...

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