Greetings! June 2003 Summer has finally arrived! And, boy do we have some heat! I think after all the rain we’ve had, our prayers have been answered twofold! With the new season, I thought I would introduce the theme of “Play” to lighten things up this summer. I hope you enjoy the "Monthly Workout"! If, at any time, you would like to unsubscribe, simply go to the end of the newsletter. Happy 4th of July and stay cool! Jean M. DiGiovanna, President, ThinkPeople Monthly Theme Monthly Workout Monthly Poem Upcoming Workshops/ Events PLAY - It's not Just for Kids Anymore! When I think of summer, I think of my childhood when school was out and we got to play all day. The biggest thing on my mind was who to play with and what to do. I remember biking with the kids on the block and playing touch football. I remember playing kick the can in back of the Tuneski’s house and having the game go on for hours and dreading to be “it”. I remember playing SPUD, PIG and HORSE and Jacks and Chinese jump rope. And, those times I took rides on a friend’s skateboard hoping my mother wouldn’t see me going down the big hill in front of our house. I remember hearing the sounds of the lawnmowers and smelling the fresh cut grass. And, how excited I was to set up the sprinkler in our yard on those hot, humid days and invite kids over to run through it. It’s like we’d never seen water before! Then, there was the beach. Playing in the ocean waves, diving in the water without thinking twice about how icy it was. Building sand castles, digging the deepest moat and hitting water, thinking we were so brilliant. Staying through the evening and ordering grinders and eating dinner on the beach. And my most memorable time was every July 4th on the beach where we would lie down on our blankets and watch the magnificent show of fireworks above us, like watching a movie, but in real life. Those times were so memorable that I cannot miss a July 4th without seeing some kind of fireworks :-). When was the last time you thought of childhood? Those times you went out to PLAY and there wasn’t a care in the world but to be happy? We don’t think twice about kids going out to play, but as we grow up, and we take on more responsibilities, the concept of play seems to go out the window. So often, we don’t PLAY for the sake of having fun! Take some time out this summer to just PLAY. Remember what you loved to do as a child and discover the freedom it gave you. Explore what makes you truly happy and joyful and create the time to do it, even if it’s just half an hour a week. When we take the time to PLAY, we give ourselves the opportunity to be completely and unabashedly alive! The world needs people who have come alive! Cheers, Jean M. DiGiovanna Monthly Workout: Bringing More Play Into Your Life Take some time out to answer the questions below. Follow the instructions below to help keep your answers alive in your life. When you were a child, what did you most love to do? What was fun for you? When was the last time you did one of those things? How could you incorporate that into your life more regularly? Next Step: Pick one of the things you loved to do and create time in your schedule to do it. If the activity you chose is inaccessible, take a moment to identify the essence of the activity and think of a way you could incorporate this into your life more regularly. Think of one way you could bring more fun and play into your workplace and incorporate it in. Check out local fireworks in your area! If you have a child in your life, invite them to play with you in activities that once brought you joy as a child. Reminisce with them. I look forward to hearing what transpires for you! (please e-mail me at jdigi@thinkpeople.com) Poem of the Month: PLAY There is nothing more precious than a child at play, Curiosity abound, fear falling away. Seeking pleasure in the things that bring them alive They appreciate the moment. They have arrived. There is much to learn from a child at play, That it doesn’t take much to smile each day. Take time for yourself to have some fun, For your soul will never regret what you’ve done.                          ~ by Jean M. DiGiovanna Upcoming Workshops, Events, Announcements For those who coach - Check out Coaching with Clarity Cards, a new product under “The Coaches Toolbox” at http://www.thinkpeople.com/szw I will be taking the summer off from running Workshops, so stay tuned for upcoming workshops in the Fall. Curious about what coaching is like? Call for a 30 minute complementary coaching session. Bring a topic, get a resolution! Call 617-566-8775. I hope you've enjoyed ThinkPeople's Monthly Workout and found value out of it! Feel free to forward to your friends, family and colleagues. To read past editions of ThinkPeople's Newsletters and to learn more about our services and products, visit us at http://www.thinkpeople.com/resources.html If you wish to unsubscribe, please e-mail unsubscribe@thinkpeople.com Copyright Info: ThinkPeople's Monthly Workout for the mind, heart and soul is ©2003 Jean M. DiGiovanna. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher. Jean M. DiGiovanna, Publisher Amy Rewakowski, Editor ThinkPeople ~ Playground for Shifting Reality jdigi@thinkpeople.com http://www.thinkpeople.com/ 617.566.8775