10-4 Magazine / May 2026 63 Tag. You’re“it.” Andthatstartstheracetomakebudget,stayintheblack,finishthatbigorder,accomplisheverythingyou promisedtodoanddoitontime. You’re“it”–butalas,lifeisnotagame,andneitheriswork,butread“ThePlayfulWay”byPiera Gelardi,andyoucanfixthat. Longairportlines. Youknowthefrustrationtheycause. Gelardidoes,too. Awhileback,shewas standinginonewhenshenoticedgrumblingfromotherfliers. Thatwaswhenshedidsomethingsilly–asthelinemovedup,she high-fivedherpartner. Theydiditagainafewcheckpointslater. Soon,thetensionsurroundingthemdissipated,peoplesmiled,and everyonewashavingfun. “Somewherealongthewaytoadulthood,”shesays,“manyofus”lostourspontaneityandimagination. Wejustdon’tplayenough. Play,Gelardipointsout,isn’tjustwhatkidsdo. Playisgoodforourhealth. Itlowersstressandboosts cognitivefunction,and“It’sessential,”bothpersonallyandatwork. Shesaysithelpedherwithanxiety,enhancedhercuriosity,and it’shelpedher“workwithmyrhythmsinsteadoffightingthem.” Toget“aplayfulmindset,”firststoplettingyourinnervoicetell youthatplayis“stupid.” Itwasn’t“stupid”whenyouwereakid,wasit? Reconnecttothosedaysandthinkaboutyourinterests today. Thosewillleadtoyour“superstrengths.” Unzipyour“SeriousSuit”everynowandthenandrememberthatlaughtercan bond,itcanrelax,takethestingoutofsomesituations,anditcan“unlockbrilliance.” Neverbelittleanyonebutbewillingtogo alongwithajokeorrandomsilliness. Makeupstoriesaboutstrangersorplacesyouseeandtapintoyour abilitytopretend. Thinkoferrorsas“gifts.” “Playisanactofcourage,”saysGelardi. “It’saboutdaring tobevulnerableinpursuitofconnectionandjoy.” EveryMondaythroughFriday,yougetupanddragyour carcasstowork,thenyoudragithomeeightortenhourslater. Itsoundsdreadful,butyoucanmakethings betterbyreading“ThePlayfulWay.” Thenthinkabouttherankyouhave,goingforward. Althoughauthor Piera Gelardi offers pretty convincing reasons to put play in your workplace, she also touches upon snags youmayencounter. Thisisajump-all-inbookforone’spersonallife,butitmayneedcarefulintroductions fortheworkplace. EvenGelardiadmitsthatwelcome,beneficialhumorsometimesrequirescautionand consideration. Thisisaneasy-to-use,funbooktoreadnomatterwhatyoudoforaliving,you’reretired,a parentoftoddlers,oryoujustliketolaugh. ForabusinessowneroraCEO,“ThePlayfulWay”canchange yourworkplaceforthebetter. Ifyouwantabooktoshakethingsup,thisisit. n The Bookworm Sez: By Terri Schlichenmeyer A LITTLE PLAY CAN MAKE YOUR DAY
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy