Sitting in my dorm room, bored and alone, I realized that the only thing keeping me there was myself. What I needed was fun, and if fun wasn’t going to find me inside Heritage Commons Residence Hall, I’d have to find it. Then it hit me – jump rope.
I ordered one online and asked a friend if she would go out and swing it with me. We walked out to the promenade, an area on Clark Atlanta University Campus where students congregate, and began swinging the long, colorful rope. Slowly, we caught the interest of our fellow students. The promenade felt transformed and was more reminiscent of a childhood school yard than a university walk. For the first time in over 10 years, it felt like we were playing together at recess, and the small joys reserved for kids in elementary school were ours again, only now we’re not just “big kids,” we are young adults.
It was fun and a reminder that growing up doesn’t have to mean missing out. One student came over and told me how much they loved what we were doing and encouraged us to keep it up – so I did just that. An afternoon of boredom turned into one of community and play, from this, my startup Big Kids Inc. was born.
Big Kids Inc. is an organization that hosts engaging, playful events for adults like field days, dodgeball tournaments, picnics, and more. We believe that the key to relieving stress and building community nurtures our inner child. One of our most powerful wellness tools is play, and now, as a Junior in college and a year into this journey, I know more than ever that play is my purpose.
How You Can Incorporate Play Into Your Routine
It is imperative that we live our lives to the fullest, which is why it’s a mission of mine to play often and boldly like when I was young. In the practice of lifestyle, I routinely find myself incorporating games into my everyday life. I enjoy word-searches in the campus library and asking friendly faces to play with me. Instead of letting the fear of rejection define my choices, I let the possibility of connection motivate me. Making friends on the playground seemed so simple as a child. My goal is to bring the playground to young adults, whether that’s in the form of a jump rope on the promenade or a word search in the library.
- Host a game night: Play board games and enjoy spending time with people you love.
- Play cards: Be bold! Get yourself a stack of uno cards or playing cards and ask people in shared community spaces like your college student center or library to play a quick game of cards with you.
- Go to the park: Spend time at a local park with your friends and have fun on the swings and slides like when you were a kid.
Get Involved
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