I fly west to Victoria, B.C., every few months to visit my Mom.

She lives in an assisted care home, and we celebrated her 94th birthday this week. 

Visiting her reminds us that despite growing older, play and connection are essential and help us find joy in aging.

Her vascular dementia means she never remembers my visits. Yet, it’s inspiring to see her ability to find joy in the present moment.

Despite her memory loss, my Mom spends her days participating in group activities, and she’s all in whatever the event—from bingo to carpet bowling, chair tennis, to music trivia. 

My Mom is living proof that play helps us continue to connect as we age.

As humans, we often forget the pure, unfiltered joy of movement. 

Remember how it felt as a kid to run just for the sake of running? To skip, jump, or roll around on the floor without worrying about how many calories you burn? 

That joy is still inside you, waiting to be rediscovered. 

Play is movement in its most natural form. It doesn’t come with expectations, goals, or judgments. 

Play boosts energy. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about aging is that we naturally lose energy. In reality, what often happens is that we stop moving in ways that give us energy. 

Traditional workouts can feel draining, especially if rooted in obligation rather than joy. 

On the other hand, play does the opposite—it fuels us, rejuvenates us, and keeps us energized for the challenges of everyday life.

Play is a powerful tool, a powerful force for change, that can reconnect you to your inner child while helping you discover the best possible system that works for you. 

The secret to getting more joy in your life is to play, and the secret to playing more is to do something that brings you joy. 

At the core is loving yourself enough today and every day to be proactive about your health. 

By making conscious choices, you can ensure that aging is something you get to do rather than have to do, empowering you to live life to the fullest. 

Take it from my Mom. Play can and will reconnect you to life’s magic.

Play on,

Your friend and coach

Jan (Please Look After Yourself) Omstead