Anything Can Be a Playground if you Try Hard Enough (Issue #11)
This week’s theme is play: embracing joy, silliness, and excitement amidst an adult work schedule.
Hi friends!
It’s FRIDAY, and frankly I’m shocked I’ve made it 11 issues into Sincerely, Celisia without making a single Rebecca Black reference. This song was an anthem when I was in high school, and I had a teacher who would play it at the start of class every week. Not sure if you’ve followed Rebecca Black’s career in recent years, but she’s out here living her hyperpop dreams, and released her first full-length album, Misery Loves Company, this past February. For Rebecca Black to experience the level of bullying and hate that she did during the “Friday” era, and turn it around 10 years later into performances that look so unbelievably FUN is impressive.
Which brings me (albeit in a roundabout way) to today’s theme. I wanted to reflect on the ways we can bring joy, play, and levity into our adult lives. Even in the throws of a full work schedule, it’s so important to me to still enjoy my life, and being intentional is the key. If you’ve kept up with this newsletter or my Instagram, you already know that Andrew and I took two weeks at the end of June to honeymoon in Italy. There’s just something about vacation that makes joy and mindfulness so much easier to achieve, and so, in an attempt to infuse that feeling into our everyday lives, Andrew and I started a “bring back list.” A list of little things we loved that we want to intentionally integrate into our daily lives.
Here’s a sample of things we want to bring back from our Italy experience:
Drinking tiny cups of espresso with biscotti cookies - we loved the intentionality and mindfulness that comes with slowly sipping an espresso rather than chugging a Starbucks on the go.
Tiny forks and spoons for desserts.
Small cups for juice and other drinks.
Honey and cheese together - I looove a good charcuterie board, but don’t usually include honey!
Now these items may not seem like groundbreaking ideas, but the idea of a “bring back list” is to observe the things you especially enjoy when you’re most present and engaged in your surroundings, and find ways to integrate them into the daily hustle bustle. It’s a simple activity, but a great way to bring the energy of play back into normal life.
So, in that spirit, I’ve compiled today’s recommendations all around the ways we can bring fun and play with us wherever we go!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
*Indicates a gift link. I know how frustrating paywalls are! When possible, I’ll try to offer gift links through my subscriptions to support access to high-quality journalism.
Vox: Small acts of kindness matter more than you think by Allie Volpe
This article provides some valuable insight into little ways of forging meaningful connection with one another, while also exploring the ways we may hold ourselves back. According to the research, small acts of kindness (such as a compliment or check-in text) have a strong positive impact on the ways others perceive us. However, research also suggests we tend to hold back these things, underestimating their impact and avoiding the social risk of vulnerability. It’s a fascinating conundrum, and one that’s made me think about my own relationships and the ways I nurture new connections.
Apple TV+: Severance (TV show)
This show takes the separation between work and play to the extreme. Severance follows a team of office workers who have all agreed to undergo a surgery that “severs” their memories. When they’re at work they can’t remember their personal life, and when at home, they can’t remember their time at work. There’s a dark mystery at the core of the show, and I love how it holds suspense throughout.
Books and Bits Substack: But how do you read so much? by Pandora Sykes
This edition of Books and Bits (one of my fave Substack newsletters) really struck a cord with me. In it, Sykes engages with the amount she reads and the ways folks often glamorize and moralize prolific reading habits. She reframes her own hobby, highlighting the downsides and bringing nuance to the pros and cons of her reading patterns. I thought it was a really good reframe, and could be applied to lots of habits that are highly valued.
Apple TV+: Tetris (movie)
Based on a true story, this biographical thriller follows the true and shocking story of how the Tetris video game came to be. Here’s the plot summary: “Henk Rogers discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov to bring the game to the masses.” Sounds fascinating, and I’m excited to watch!!
*New York Times: Sudoku Tips for Beginners: How to Solve Efficiently by Isaac Aronow
I loved this article because I’m not someone who’s ever very casual about my hobbies. If I learn something new, I quickly find myself running down one research rabbit hole after another, trying to perfect my skills whenever possible. Which is where this article comes in, offering great ideas on how to think about Sudoku and solve the puzzles strategically. Great primer for someone new Sudoku, or for those looking to perfect their skills.
A reflection + action for your week. Compete on your own or with friends – I dare ya!
Truth: What is a game or activity from your childhood that you wish you could play again as an adult? What is stopping you from playing? What memories come to mind when you think of this game or activity?
Dare: Plan an adult carnival for your friends. Invest in snacks and machines to bring the best carnival foods to you, including popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy. Set up classic games and activities and award prizes such as giant stuffed animals to the winners! To get you started, you can check out a list of DIY carnival game ideas here.
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise that I’ll only ever share items I truly love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
My friend recently sent me this Instagram reel about “puzzle chess.” To play, you’ll need a puzzle, a friend, and a chess timer app. After assembling the border for the puzzle, you’ll start the chess timer and each person will take a turn finding and placing a piece of the puzzle. Once your piece is placed, you can stop your timer and your opponent’s timer will start. The winner is whoever has the most time remaining when the puzzle is completed. This game seems like the perfect compromise for me and Andrew, because I always want to do a puzzle and he always wants to play chess, haha. Try it out and let me know what you think!
I bought *this game a few months ago to have a good group activity on hand for my birthday party. It’s similar to the childhood classic “Mafia,” and is described as “a party game of lies, deceit, & accusations.” You can play with up to 35 people, and it’s small and extremely portable – perfect for your next get together.
My friend became obsessed with the Cats & Soup mobile game this past winter, and I think it’s the perfect calming aesthetic game to pass the time. In the game, you’re the caretaker for a number of cats whose job is to make soup. The graphics are really cute, and there is something so sweet about watching adorable little kitties running around cooking. The app is available on iOS, Android, and ad-free through Netflix games (check out this super cute Netflix trailer for the game here).
If you’re looking for more ways to bring play into your life, make sure to check out this week’s P.S. tucked under the signature line, where I share some of the favorite themed parties I’ve hosted over the years. Andrew and I take parties very seriously, so there are some great out of the box ideas to get you started. :)
See you next week!
P.S. - How to Host the BEST Themed Party (4 ideas to get you started)
When Andrew and I first started hosting parties as a couple, we had an explicit conversation about how we wanted to be known as stellar hosts. I mean who doesn’t?? And as two creative people with zero chill, we’ve really invested in themed parties. Having a theme not only helps distinguish our parties from one another, but also gives us an activity to bring everyone together around, making it much easier to invite a group of folks who may not know each other well yet! As reality tv connoisseurs, we often use these shows as inspiration.