I’ll always remember the long hot summers of the late 70s as some of the best days of my life.

It wasn’t only the hot, sunny days, and the fun we had in and out of paddling pools, eating ice cream and collecting shells on the beach. It was more the sense of freedom, the simplicity, the innocence that defined my summers as a child.

As children we acted on instinct, we played, we lived in the moment. There was no ego, no judgement, no overly analytical mind to get in the way of the fun we were going to have.

You could argue that, as children, we had no responsibilities, that of course we would feel free, and it’s just not possible when we get older. Yet we know there are numerous health benefits to taking time out, whether it’s a short power nap or a relaxing holiday away from the everyday stresses and strains which leave us exhausted. In my opinion, taking time out to play is just like a short holiday, a necessity not a luxury.

It is when we are playing that we are at our most creative, we make the best decisions, our mood is lightened and we recharge that vital energy that keeps us motivated for life’s journey, and better equipped to deal with the challenges along the way.

Accessing this state of play is as good as any form of meditation, in terms of quietening the busy mind and is widely regarded as the key to happiness. It’s the perfect way to empty the mind of the rubbish that destroys our health and our spirit.

I still want to play. I want to spend time with no agenda, no judgement, just going on instinct. Don’t you?

Our body and soul know how to play, it’s just our brains that get in the way. As we get older, we are shaped by our experiences, our window on the world is tainted, and we start to protect ourselves from what might happen by holding onto what we think to be certain. Taking the path of least resistance, sticking with what we know and what we’re comfortable with.

When we were young, we didn’t have the fears and the self-imposed limits that we now find holding us back. We took things as they were, treated life with curiosity, as if it were one big adventure. And it is. Maybe we just sometimes forget that.

What would life look like if we were to go back to our innocent selves and approach life like we did as children? If we let go of our egos, our self-consciousness, our judgements about ourselves and about others, and just let life happen? If we refused to listen to the part of our brains that tells us that we’re too old, too fat, not good enough, and just acted purely on instinct? Would our lives fall apart?

Unlikely. In fact, it may be one of the best life changes we could make. Not only would this shift in outlook have a positive impact on our health, as we reduce our stress levels, it could also open up a whole new world of possibilities in our work and creative lives.

When I visited local sculptor, Janis Ridley, she reminded me of one of my favourite sayings.