The Spirit of Play

December 5, 2024

The Spirit of Play


A journey starts, uncharted and free 

We go on a path together   

Where we are more open to not knowing

Embracing the joy of spontaneity


A reminder of how freeing play can be 

And that we don’t need much to play 

Just hearts eager to connect

Laughter as our guide   

Connecting with new people, hearing their stories 

Each voice a note in our shared symphony


Confidence is contagious 

Like ripples in a pond 

Don’t overthink! 

Let intuition lead the way 

Own your story 

Speaking it with energy! 

And we learned to build on someone else's work— 

Every contribution, a stepping stone.


Did you know we have an ability to connect 

Without using words? 

Silent understanding blooms

Authenticity!   

And sometimes that is more powerful


Be present  – a mantra in the stillness 

A playground for the mind and spirit 

Games motivated us to be more creative 

Y’know, everyone has boundless creativity 

Waiting to be sparked.


At the GPB Changemakers Play Festival 

Ideas dance and collide 

A community united in this tapestry of play 

We weave connections that last 

A reminder that together 

We are on the path to joy 

(This poem was created from the chat comments of Changemakers PlayFest and then creatively edited)


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By Global Play Brigade July 14, 2026
Keep the Heart Open to Play Possibilities abound for magical connections. Play every day in every way. Play is life. Your delta flow feeds my sisters' feet, fires her soul. Together for global transformation. The hardest times can be boring but also fun. Finding self and others through our play. Live like a kid again. Play fills me with ideas, joy, and wonder. My dreams and passions and visions were already happening. No rules. No clock. No apologies. Just play, play, play. Ready to go be a champion of play. Play is for all of us, both me and you. Together we're so much better than creating play moments alone. Make your heart dance and your soul happy. A moment of play makes your day. Whenever I may, I like to play. Play our way into changing ourselves and the world. Yes, and then magic happens. Eat, drink, and celebrate play. My kingdom for play. My kingdom of play. I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference. I want to fly on a swing with glee in the breeze. Play is the essence that brings us together. Play is the embodiment of joy. I am because we play. In gratitude and wonder. I forgot I was a child, babbling, and by playing I remember all I can still become. The growing fire sparked and hissed as it warmed the readers around it. Play is connecting to yourself. How joyous to be connected through play to all of you. Play is a cool day. Play unites. Play inspires. I'm learning to bring my internal curiosity to the exterior world. Play sparks that turn ordinary moments into pockets of wonder. Play connects the world across borders. Many drops, rising tide. My heart is full of playful delight. Sun shining on the ocean. To play today, with all of you Play is going back to the source. Play is always fun. I am ready. Hear my bones here jangling and dancing. Playfulness and joy, the connective tissue of our world. Play creates smiles and giggles. Play fills up my heart with tickles and light. Play weaves our different strands together. Play is fun. Enlightenment. Play is full of colours. Play is architecture. Play connects mind and movement to support human development. Keep the heart open to play. (This poem was created from the chat comments of The Art & Science of Play and then creatively edited)
By Danielle Speciale June 9, 2026
Author: Sarah Filman, GPB Director of Programs