Weekly: Everyone needs it
In today's newsletter, we're digging into the science and practice of play, with a brand new animation, some practical tools, and inspiration to send you off into the holiday season with joy in your heart.
I'm also thrilled that we're launching our brand new referral program, to thank you for spreading the word about The New Happy. Here's how it works: if you refer three friends to the newsletter, you'll get access to a brand new exclusive Wallpaper Collection, full of our most-loved artwork (available in both light and dark mode!)
To refer a friend, just copy and paste your unique link (only available in the email — if you don’t get it, make sure you subscribe on our home page!) Once you reach three referrals, you'll get an email with the wallpapers. I hope you like them!
Happy holidays!
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
This weekend, and into the holiday season, I hope you will take some time to play. (Start by watching this animation on YouTube , which we tried to imbue with a sense of playfulness to inspire you!)
First of all, what is play? It’s an activity or way of looking at the world that brings a sense of delight, ease, or interest. It leaves you feeling energized and connected.
Children play naturally and instinctively. But as we get older, life can start to weigh us down. It becomes harder to tap into that experience of delight, ease, and interest.
We are a society that is sorely lacking in many things (equality, rest, adequate social services, peace, compassion, access to opportunity, etc…) Play is one item that I’d add to the list. It matters because it is something that can sustain and energize us as we work to right those wrongs.
Play puts you in a better mood and supports your mental health. It connects us to one another. And it helps us in hard times: research shows that playfulness can lead to enhanced resources and coping strategies, which can help you get through hard times.
Some people are naturally playful. You probably know someone like this (or maybe you are someone like this!) This is the wonderful friend who makes going to the DMV or running errands into a fun experience.
If you need a bit of help tapping into your playful nature, don’t worry. This capacity is within you! Here are a few ways to do it:
Play with others: In your next interaction, do your best to delight or surprise the other person.
Play with ideas: Take an idea you’ve had recently, and find a new way to bring it to life (like through music, art, spoken word, writing, or debate.)
Play with your childhood interests: What fascinated you as a child? (For me, it was dolphins.) Spend some time delving back into it: read some articles, watch a few videos, or engage with it in the real world.
Play with time: Cancel your plans and let go of your ‘real-world’ schedule. Be spontaneous, break the rules; allow yourself to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it.
Play with your view of life: Ask yourself, “If life was a game or an adventure, what would I do right now?” Then, do it!
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More Tips and Tools
Your unique power — It’s available right here and now.
Celebrate your year – What mattered most to you in 2022?
How to create more peace in your life — It starts with letting go.
Twelve ways to be gentler to yourself — When you start feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try this.
How to cope in hard times — Sometimes, thinking about the future isn’t helpful.
Or listen to the podcast episodes (Apple, Spotify) from this week!
Community
What do you do to play?
“Ride my bike or do the “Elaine” dance from Seinfeld, that always makes me and everyone around me laugh. Riding my bike makes me feel eight years old again.”
“Dance!”
“I tend to make a game of the things I rather not do – to make them more fun. For example: cleaning up the kitchen together with my kids becomes a game. We set a clock and see how fast we can get it all done and we put on music so it’s mostly just a sing and dance “cleaning action game”.
“Run along the river.”
"I love to do puzzles every weekend."
"Make up silly games with my kids on the drive to school.”
“Remind myself fear is come from within me rather from the world.”
“I play through music and Zumba. I belong to a group of free spirits, who love to dance and move. They also love to cheer and whoop and sing! It is a lovely way to play in an environment of music and freedom.”
“Play hide and seek with my dog.”
Inspiration
25 good news stories from 2022 (Positive News) — Look at all these reasons for hope.
Secret cookie recipes! (The Kitchn) — 12 bakers share their family’s secret recipe.
This small Scottish town’s annual contest (Colossal) — Every year, the kids of Newburgh propose new Christmas decorations — with delightful results.
Before You Go
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