Ever witnessed the pure joy of an infant when the mother plays peekaboo with her? 

Empty nesting can feel like a profound shift—a transition from the bustling activity of raising children to a quieter, more reflective phase of life. It's a bit like the contrast between the spontaneous joy of a child's game of peekaboo and the structured, performance-oriented mindset we often adopt as adults. As we enter this new chapter, many of us face the challenge of rediscovering what brings us joy and fulfillment.

Most of us didn’t need formal instruction on how to play as children; we learned through exploration and imagination. But as we grew up, society taught us that play is frivolous and that success is measured by numbers and performance. We internalized this belief, forgetting that it was a construct handed down through generations.

This cycle of valuing performance over play often traps us in a rigid, unfulfilling routine. We become so focused on planning and achieving that we forget the simple joy of spontaneous discovery.

Is it necessary to always plan how we engage with life’s pleasures? Can we allow ourselves to simply be in the moment and see what unfolds? Often, we are too conditioned to experiment freely and explore without a set agenda.

My takeaway is to embrace the freedom to play and explore. Just like a child finding joy in a game of peekaboo, rediscovering this sense of unstructured play can bring new joy and fulfillment, especially as we navigate the empty nesting phase.