The grown-up's guide to playing again

There’s a word that’s been circling my mind lately: whimsy. It arrived quietly, as these thoughts often do ~ somewhere between the school run and my morning coffee, between folding laundry and realising we’re almost half way into this year already (where has it gone?!). By definition, whimsy is playfulness, lightness, imagination ~ often in defiance of practicality. But my personal definition, the one that feels truer to me, is this: the art of finding beauty in the everyday, and making the ordinary feel extraordinary.

As a 37-year-old mother of four, believe me when I say my days are full. Full in the best way, yes - but also jam-packed with responsibility, repetition, and routine. And yet, at least once a month, I find myself turning to my partner and saying, almost rebelliously, “Let’s just forget all of the boring adult stuff today and do something fun!” A small, joyful protest. A return to something lighter and more youthful-feeling.

I once read about someone who tells the dishes, “it’s bath time!” and I’ve never forgotten it. It still makes me smile and giggle each time I fill up the sink with soapy water. Because that’s what real whimsy is, isn’t it? It bubbles up from somewhere deep and unguarded. It doesn’t ask for permission. It simply is. And I think - especially in the colder months, when the days shorten and our moods can quietly dip - we need it more than ever!

When I’m stuck in a rut… scrolling, consuming, buying, or generally feeling unsatisfied, I notice something curious: this numbing way of living is what actually what makes life feel heavier. What I tend to need in those moments isn’t more discipline or structure. It’s softness, creativity and romance. And dare I say it: whimsy! For years, I affectionately called this living romantically. But lately, I’ve realised - whimsy holds its own kind of magic, doesn’t it?

So, with all this said, here are a few gentle ways I’ve been inviting more of it into my days this autumn…