Episode 24: The Good Girl Never Played, The Dangerous Woman Does
Reclaiming Joy, Play, and Lightness in Midlife
When's the last time you played without earning it first?
For most midlife women, play became something you think about instead of something you do. It's something you schedule, justify, earn. It carries weight now - guilt, self-consciousness, the nagging voice that says "shouldn't you be doing something useful?"
But here's the truth you need to hear:
You didn't lose your playfulness because you grew up. You lost it because you were taught that joy without productivity made you less worthy of love.
In this episode, I'm dismantling the myths that keep you trapped in seriousness, exploring why play is actually revolutionary (not frivolous), and giving you practical ways to reclaim the lightness that was trained out of you.
Because every act of play is rehearsal for the sacred exits still to come.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:
✨ Why women lose their connection to play and what that abandonment is costing you
✨ The real barriers keeping you serious (hint: it's not lack of time - it's lack of permission)
✨ How play rewires your nervous system to tolerate freedom
✨ Why "playful women aren't taken seriously" is a feature, not a bug
✨ Practical acts of reclamation you can start this week, even if you've forgotten how to play
✨ How play connects to midlife transformation and becoming your authentic self
✨ My personal journey with Barbie, music, and rediscovering creative play in my 50s
START HERE THIS WEEK:
Choose one small act of reclamation:
Permission Rituals:
Block one "Unproductive Hour" this week - no agenda, no outcome, nothing useful allowed
Do something purely because it feels good and when asked why, say "Because I wanted to"
Body Reconnection:
Dance in your kitchen for 3 minutes to a song that makes you feel something
Touch/taste/smell something purely for pleasure, not function
Playful Identity:
List what delighted you before age 12 - pick ONE thing and do it again this week
Notice when you stop yourself from expressing joy because it feels "unprofessional"
Just one. Not all of them. Not perfectly. Just one small permission you give yourself.
Ready to Go
Deeper?
If this episode resonated with you and you're ready for more personalized support in nourishing your soul and navigating this midlife transition, I'd love to work with you. Book a free chat to learn more!
This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
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DISCLAIMER: This podcast may cause sudden outbreaks of truth-telling, boundary-setting, and unapologetic self-expression. Side effects include losing people who preferred you silent.
