The other day, I watched my granddaughter race across the deck with a bubble wand in hand.

With every wave, a cloud of shimmering circles floated into the sunshine.

She squealed, leaped, and reached for the bubbles with both hands, laughter spilling out as if the whole world were magic.

I stood there, smiling—and then a thought struck me: When did I stop playing?

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d blown bubbles, or skipped across a yard, or twirled in the kitchen when no one was looking.

Somewhere between adulthood and responsibility, I’d quietly packed my sense of play into storage.

But here’s the thing: play isn’t frivolous.

It’s not childish.It’s how we restart.

In the middle of heavy days, play is a quick reset button. It reminds us that resilience doesn’t always come from pushing harder—it often comes from lightening up, laughing, and letting joy sneak back in.

So, in case you’ve forgotten too, here are ten playful ways to hit restart:

10 Playful Restarts

1. Blow a few bubbles. Watch them float and pop—instant joy.

2. Eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich just because you love it.

3. Rub your fingers across a pine tree branch and breathe in deep.

4. Skip. You’re never too old—try it, even for ten steps.

5. Fly a kite. Let the wind carry your worries away.

6. Laugh, deep from the gut. Belly-shaking, tear-streaming kind.

7. Sing with the birds. Off-key, loud, and full-hearted.

8. Twirl. In the living room, the yard, the kitchen—it counts anywhere.

9. Take a big, slow breath. Feel it clear out your shoulders and chest.

10. Soak up color. Notice the changing sky, the green in leaves, the bright pop of flowers—or even the calm in grays.

    
    

These aren’t just childish distractions.

They’re resilience tools.

They remind us that refreshment is available anytime, in small doses.

They show us how to pause, exhale, and begin again.

The next time life feels heavy, try one.

Or two.

Or all ten.

See what happens when you let your inner child out to play.

Because resilience doesn’t always look like strength.

Sometimes, it looks like laughter floating up with a bubble.

Below, soft shades of color put me floating on that sailboat, letting my thoughts drift.

Come along with me ... it's a peaceful refreshing ride.

“Looking for more ways to restart? Swing High shares how one swing set became a surprising teacher of perseverance, gratitude, and resilience.”