Permission to Play: Because It Brings You Joy

In case you don’t follow me on social media, I’ve been posting a lot of flower arrangements lately. Like... a lot a lot.

Yes, I’ve still been working with coaching clients and gearing up to relaunch my course this fall – but I also signed up for an online flower arranging class, and I’ve been making bouquets weekly with blooms from my garden. It’s become a whole thing.

So naturally, the question started popping up:
“Wait…are you becoming a florist?”
Short answer – no.
Long answer – not in the way you’re thinking.
Though let’s be honest – having a flower shop with coffee and Jasper serving as barista would be a delight.

Right now, it’s something I do just for me. No pressure. Instead, a creative outlet that’s often the only time of my day where voices aren’t swirling in my head. I’m present and centered.

It got me thinking about the idea of having something in your life that’s just yours.

My mom has always played tennis in the mornings. She’s not going to play at Wimbledon, but she’s moving her body, connecting with friends, and improving her game, even decades in. My dad’s the same with golf – it’s a hobby that brings him focus, challenge, and fun. He’s been working to “get better” since he was in high school.

And somewhere along the way, a lot of us stop doing that.

We get busy. We take care of other people. We pour into work, home, family – and suddenly the idea of doing something “just because you love it” feels almost...indulgent.

But it’s not. It’s essential.

Maybe for you it’s baking, or painting, or learning a new language. Maybe it’s reading more fiction. Maybe it’s trying a dance class even if you feel silly or too old.

When I was in middle school, I was in ballet every day and there was this woman named Jenny – probably in her 60s with a head of gorgeous grey hair – who joined our class full of tweens and teens. We definitely noticed her that first day. But after that, it was just “Hey Jenny!” and she’d line up at the barre with the rest of us and we’d get to our pliés. No one blinked. It was completely normal by the second lesson.

That moment stuck with me – because most of the time, people are far too focused on their own arabesques (literal or otherwise) to worry about yours. We think everyone’s paying attention, but most of the time they’re just cheering you on for showing up (and if they’re not, it doesn’t need to affect us).

So no, I’m not becoming a florist.
But I am giving myself permission to enjoy something just because it brings me joy – and because I love the challenge. Not because it needs to become a job, or solve a problem, or be the most productive use of my time.

And I wanted to ask – do you have something like that?
Something that’s just for you?

If not, what could it be?
What have you always been curious about, but never gave yourself the green light to explore?

It doesn’t have to make money.
It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else.
It just has to make sense to you.

And maybe what starts as a tiny spark of curiosity becomes one of your favorite parts of the week!