Just Play

"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing."


I went to a physical education conference in New Brunswick, New Jersey recently and these exact words came out of the Chip Candy's mouth. Chip Candy was voted the number one physical educator in the state last year, and spending an entire day with this man really makes you notice why. He really does his job, and he does it well. However, the thing that struck me the most about that day was the above mentioned quote. For my lifestyle, this really means a lot to me. It may seem weird for some, but I want to die while camping with my wife at 86 years old. I want to die while climbing the Alp de Huez on my bicycle at 70. I want to die doing what I love to do: playing. I see my parents come home everyday from work stressed out and frustrated with their careers. I don't want that in my life. I love my parents, and every Sunday before I go to work I try to get them to do something. I'm always suggesting they go for a drive, or go for a little ride on their vintage bicycles. SOMETHING that can take their minds off of work. I WANT THEM TO PLAY. They have lost sight of what playing is in life and this is something common in our society today. It is sad. And although I will probably loose sight of this too, I promise myself that i'll fight as hard as I can to JUST KEEP PLAYING.