A Love Letter to Your Inner Child—with a Side of Cabernet

Here’s a question that might stop you in your tracks:
When was the last time you did something completely childish… and LOVED every second of it?

Not “adult-approved fun.”
Not “productive recreation.”
I mean something silly, pointless, messy, and magic.

For me, it happened on a snowy morning that looked like it jumped out of a Christmas movie—minus the flawless hair and pop-star soundtrack. (Trust me… my hat hair had a pulse.)

And there I was:
A grown woman, mother, leader, CEO, nurse, and human who has paid property taxes for decades…
Standing in my yard making a snowman.

Not supervising.
Not helping a child.
Not doing it for photos.

Just building Frosty because I wanted to.

Why did it light me up like a strand of twinkle lights?

Because somewhere along the highway between childhood and adulthood, many of us traded in:

• Snow angels
  for
  Snow shovels
• Swing sets
  for
  Standing conference calls
• Belly laughing
  for
  “Let me check my calendar”

We got serious.
Busy.
Efficient.
Practical.
(Oh, the tragedy!)

But here’s the twist no one teaches us in adulthood:
Play isn’t a luxury—it’s rocket fuel for joy, creativity, and sanity.

And unlike when we were kids, we now have one very adult upgrade:

✨ We can add a glass of wine before, during, or after the snowman.
(Responsibly… of course. Frosty doesn’t need to know.)

Why We Stop Playing

At some point we convince ourselves that:

• Play is unproductive
• Fun isn’t a priority
• Adults should act their age
• And if anyone sees us rolling snowballs, sliding on ice, swinging at a playground…
  We will be judged.

Spoiler alert:
No one is watching.
And if they are, they probably want to join us.

The Real Victory?

Not a perfect snowman.
Not a sculpted ice carousel.
Not even staying upright.

It’s the spark.

That flicker of Oh my gosh I forgot how good this feels
That wake-up call that your spirit is STILL in there
That reminder that midlife and beyond doesn’t mean slowing down—it means leveling up… with more laughter.

Your Homework (the fun kind):

Before winter melts away…
Go play.

❄️ Build a snowman
❄️ Flop into a snow angel
❄️ Grab a sled—or a baking sheet and pray
❄️ Dance in the kitchen in fuzzy socks
❄️ Swing at the playground
❄️ Slide down the slide
❄️ Skip. Yes, skip.

Because every time you choose joy over “should,”
You remind your brain—and your heart—
That you’re not done living yet.
Not even close.

If anyone asks what you’re doing?
Smile and say:

“I’m busy keeping my sparkle.”

And maybe offer them a glass of wine.

Cheers to childlike wonder, grown-woman wisdom,
and the kind of fun that keeps us…
ageless. 🍷❄️💛