Just Play With It

My word for 2025 is: PLAY.

Perhaps some of you think setting a theme word for the year is a bit of a fad, or joke, or waste of time, but I find it to be the opposite.

It’s been an annual new year ritual for me since 2019. I choose my theme word intentionally and it sets the tone for my choices and attitude throughout the year.

It’s like a compass I can use to course-correct when I’m getting swept away from my true north. I go through patches where I don’t embody my word, then I’ll remember it again and it will influence my decision making, like it did this week.

On Wednesday I took my eldest to a wildlife event he was interested in and the other 3 to the next door playground, which was a pretty awesome playground in my opinion! (I’m enjoying this area for the fact you can visit lots of places without driving 1000 hours.)

As more parents dribbled in and we collectively sat or stood watching our children having a ball, I thought: look at us, immobile, staring at our phones.

Now, no judgement, I’ve used the playground many a time to amuse my poppets so I can have a coffee, a chat and a breather from mothering. Inevitably there’s always someone to push on the swing or spin on a spinny thing though isn’t there!

For whatever reason, this time it struck me: when did I stop playing and simply become an observer of my children having fun? Where is this level of play in my life lately?

When the boys asked if I would go down the tunnel slides with them I initially said “nah, I’m okay thanks,” which was more of a reaction than a response. I will look silly, I might get stuck, what if I can’t fit and get claustrophobic 🥴, what will other parents think?

Then I remembered my word for the year is PLAY, defined as: to engage in an activity for enjoyment or amusement.

So, after a good while, I said “right boys, I’ll do it.” And I did. Numerous times. It was so fun and I felt really happy going up the stairs and down the slides with the boys for a little while. We laughed — or rather, they laughed at me — and they gave me their best tips for fast and slow sliding. I played!

I’ve been talking to my fried Katrina about play lately as well. To play isn’t just sliding down slides or playing with your children. It’s in the way we approach every aspect of life: the way I mother, how I am with Adam, how I go about cleaning up the kitchen, trying new things in my business, etc.

Just play with it is what I remind myself so often. Take an idea and play with it. Experiment. Taking a playful approach feels like such less pressure than being scared to try because I might not get it right.

I’d love to know what your word for 2025 is and whether it’s influenced your year so far? It’s also not too late to choose a word for the back half of the year if you feel called to!

We are currently working virtually with Family Therapist Lisa Taylor from Strengthening Families Australia to create a calmer, closer family.

We’re doing it to better understand one another, learn more about navigating emotions and how to communicate effectively. Lisa is incredible and we’re learning a lot. Well, I am, and hopefully someone else in this family is learning something too. 😂

Here’s a few things Lisa said this week that stood out to me and may also spark something in you:

• My feelings are my feelings - they’re an inside job.

• We can have conversations about feelings without needing to fix them for someone else.

• All behaviour equals need.

• The important thing to remember with each role is the person in it has either no awareness, or is playing the role to meet a need. We always assume the best in people and support them to become aware of their role with kindness and empathy.

In case you missed the news in my last post, I have two exciting things coming soon!

1. A retreat 15th-17th October with Katrina Myers (her newsletter here). We are currently finalising the details of the retreat, so stay tuned! It’s going to be a lovely few days of going inward, working on a project you’ve been marinating in/on for a while, yoga, meditation, yummy food, peace and quiet, coaching with me, and all the things you would love for a rejuvenating time out.

2. I’m starting 1:1 clarity coaching again.

   I support thoughtful women who feel lost, stuck, or unseen. Whether you're navigating motherhood, farming family dynamics, burnout, career choices, or a personal crossroads, working with me is a safe space to pause, feel held, and reconnect with yourself.

   With over 12 years of coaching experience and qualifications in motherhood studies, mental health, business and agriculture, my coaching blends reflective conversation, somatic tools, creative practices and intuitive guidance — always led by what you need in the moment.

   You don’t need to have it all figured out on your own. If you’re feeling the nudge for change, or simply need clarity on your next step, I’d love to meet you and help you remember who you are, what you want and how to get it.

   • Available Thursdays & Fridays via Zoom, or in-person at Restore Studio Moama. 50 or 75 minute sessions. Studio Opening Special: 20% off your first session (for the first 12 bookings only - get in quickly). Book a call here.

At the moment I’m writing my chapter for Anthologia Issue 2 based around the topic of creativity and the importance of a woman’s creative life. It’s become clearer to me in the last few years how essential our individual creative expression is — however that looks for you (sewing, gardening, drawing, knitting, writing, crafting, making jewellery, photography, cooking, dancing, singing, creating products and services, podcasting, painting… and so many more!).

I did a podcast episode on How To Make Time For Creativity. You can listen here.

Now that I’m more self aware and know that I’m at my best when expressing myself creatively in everyday life, I look back on times that I was struggling and know that was a missing piece of the puzzle at those times. More on this another time, but for now, I think this quote says it all.

“Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasises. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow, shame.” - Brene Brown

How can you express more of your creative self this week, even in micro ways?

Have fun playing!

With love,

Benita x

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