The Playground

Thanks so much to Rachelli Dreyfuss for this excellent mashal. I couldnt write it better than she did, so here it is:

Ever been to the playground? When you're older you think, "Man, I am way too big/old/mature/cool, to play on this mass of metal, plastic and brightly colored pieces... leave it for the kids..."
Well "Man", you play on the playground everyday.
A little kid, he sees the playground as a chance for fun. We see life as a chance for... chances!
The kid leaps to the monkey bars as a chance to show his strength and agility. We join a club, sign up for a position to prove our leadership and efficiency.
The kid runs to the slide. He craves speed! We hurry to our cars, ready to show the world, "look at me go! Aren't i so cool in this convertible?
"I watched some kids on the playground. The sheer joy on their faces lit up the day. They simply enjoyed running up and down, back and forth. Screams of "tag you're it!" filled the air. Who couldn't love this scene?

But their is a distinct difference between those kids on the playground and us "grownups," and "big kids". The kids on the playground do what they do because they love it. We do what we do because we have something to prove to ourselves, to others...
So when we get the playground with our kids, babysitting clients, nieces and nephews, maybe we should "grow up" and see the beauty of playground. It isn't just a toy... it's a chance to grow! To improve! It's a chance to let the facade we wear fall away! We can finally just be the person we dream of... the person who doesn't need other to validates his/her feelings, the person who can enjoy life for all the things that make it up: the ups (keep climbing up that ladder!), the downs (sometimes we all slip down a slide... sometimes just a bit too fast), the sides-to-side, the struggles (if you keep trying, if you keep reaching for the next monkey bar, you will make it, and you will become strong!) and everything in between.

The playground isn't just a place for kids. This life isn't just a place for adults. It's a place for every man, woman and child to grow, develop, learn and love!
So the next you're find yourself in a park, looking at a playground with a turned up nose, just remember...
you live that playground every day.