The Healing Power of Playfulness in Midlife

Because sometimes healing sounds like snort-laughing in your pajamas.

Not long ago, I found myself in the middle of a tickle fight with my grandson. I was on the floor, laughing so hard my mascara was running, and for a moment—just one small, sacred moment—I forgot about the to-do list, the grief, the bills, the adulting.

I was playing.
Like, really playing.
And it felt like oxygen.

When Did We Stop Playing?

Somewhere along the line—between careers, caregiving, and crises—we stopped playing. We started optimizing. We traded hopscotch for highlighters and belly laughs for spreadsheets.

And for good reason. Life got real.
Maybe someone got sick.
Maybe someone left.
Maybe you left—who you were, who you thought you’d become.

But here’s the quiet truth:
Playfulness didn’t leave you.
It just got buried under responsibility and the misguided belief that healing has to be solemn to be sacred.

Laughter as Medicine (Yes, Really)

Research says laughter lowers cortisol, boosts immunity, and improves mental flexibility.
I say laughter reminds you that you’re still alive.

That’s why I keep a ridiculous dancing cactus toy on my desk. (If you know, you know.)
It’s why I once was tried my hand at stand-up comedy in a real comedy club.
It’s why I now own bubble wands—and I’m not above using them in the front yard.

Because midlife isn’t the end of your playful era.
It’s the invitation back to it.

Playfulness After Loss? Yes—Especially Then.

After loss, play can feel foreign. Even… inappropriate.

But joy doesn’t betray grief.
Joy belongs with grief. It balances it.
Your heart can hold sorrow and a snort-laugh at the same time. And when it does? That’s when healing gets real.

So How Do You Begin?

Start ridiculously small.

• Blow bubbles.

• Buy silly socks.

• Color with crayons.

• Tell Alexa to play your favorite boy band and dance like no one’s got your Ring cam footage.

The goal isn’t to be funny.
The goal is to feel free, even for a moment.

Here’s What I Know:

You’re allowed to laugh before everything’s figured out.
You’re allowed to find joy even while you’re healing.
And if you’ve forgotten how to play—don’t worry. She hasn’t forgotten you.