From the Deck to the Page #12
Deck: Mindful Souls ‘Soul Bridges’ deck
Card Category: Play – Dive into the fun, unexpected stuff
‘Soul Bridges’ Deck Prompt:
“What are those things you’re too old to do but still enjoy?”
When this question came up from the Soul Bridges deck, I laughed out loud. “Too old”? What does that even mean anymore? I can’t say there’s much I’ve outgrown when it comes to joy. If anything, the older I get, the more I find myself reclaiming the things I loved as a kid — without apology, without explanation.
The first thing that came to mind was trick-or-treating. For years, we walked the neighborhoods with friends and their kids, costumed and giddy — a mix of grown-up supervision and inner child excitement. I remember thinking how fun it was to dress up, wander under the streetlights, and pretend for a night that the world was made of magic and sugar. Over time, friends moved away, and the kids grew up to make their own memories and traditions. These days, we still love handing out candy, admiring everyone’s creativity, and soaking in the excitement from the other side of the door.
And then there’s the real Halloween tradition: adults stealing candy from their kids’ stash. You know the drill — the strategic “quality check,” the hidden favorites tucked away for later, the secret trades. When we went trick-or-treating with friends and their kids, they had their favorite candies, and we had ours. The kids would always share with us, and we never went home empty-handed. I personally love Tootsie Rolls, and because the kids didn’t, I usually ended the night with a whole baggie full of them — a sweet little victory for the grown-ups.
Remembering my own childhood trick-or-treating, my dad had his candy ritual, too. He’d scoop up the Nestlé Crunch bars, bag them up, and stash them in the freezer — his personal treasure chest for when the sweet tooth struck. Looking back, it makes me smile to realize how those little acts of “candy thievery” became their own kind of tradition — proof that playfulness runs in the family.
Recently, I saw an Instagram post that said, “This is how adults go trick-or-treating” — showing people walking door to door with wine glasses, getting a little pour at each house. Another one joked that adults should be allowed to trick-or-treat at liquor stores for those tiny bottles of alcohol. I couldn’t help but laugh. The message was clear: we never really grow out of wanting a little treat — we just change what kind of “candy” we ask for.
And then there are the kiddie rides. Have you ever noticed how much joy beams from the faces of adults on the Dumbo ride or the spinning teacups at Disneyland? It’s like their inner five-year-old is screaming, “Finally!” I love that. The swings at the playground call to me in the same way — that simple moment of pumping your legs, feeling your stomach drop as you reach the highest point, wind in your face, laughter coming out of nowhere. Pure, unfiltered joy.
Even wave pools, ball pits, and the things labeled for kids only still feel like invitations. Somewhere along the way, society decided that “grown-up” should mean serious, structured, and sensible. But the truth is, play is sacred medicine. It keeps us creative, connected, and curious. It reminds us that laughter can be a spiritual practice — a way to shake loose the heaviness of life and remember that being human can be light.
When we play, we let go of how we look. We stop performing and start participating. We loosen the grip of control and open the door to spontaneity — and that’s often when joy sneaks back in.
Maybe that’s why I love questions like this one. They remind us that play is not a privilege; it’s a birthright. There’s no age limit on wonder. There’s no cutoff for delight.
So here’s your invitation from the Play category:
What are those things you’re “too old” to do — but do anyway?
Maybe it’s:
- Singing into your hairbrush like a rock star.
- Skipping down the sidewalk just because you can.
- Building a blanket fort or watching cartoons in pajamas.
- Ordering dessert first.
- Blowing bubbles, jumping in puddles, or spinning until you’re dizzy.
Whatever it is, let yourself have it. The world doesn’t need more grown-ups acting like they’ve figured everything out — it needs more adults willing to play.
Journal Prompt:
When was the last time you did something just for fun — not to achieve, not to prove, not to post — but simply because it made you feel alive?
How might your life feel lighter if you allowed more play into it this week?
Today’s Reflection:
You’re never too old to play, laugh, or climb on the swings. You’re not aging out of joy — you’re growing into it.
Theresa
Flexible Being
Empowering Your Journey to Healing, Clarity, and Self-Discovery.
I thank you for being here. If you enjoyed this post, there’s plenty more where that came from, everything from soulful healing tips to playful prompts and real conversations about life.
Find me and connect today. I want to learn about your story:
Email: theresa@flexiblebeing.com
Website: www.flexiblebeing.com
Instagram:
@theresamartinezshapiro
@flexiblebeing
Theresa Martinez-Shapiro
Hello! I am Theresa Martinez-Shapiro; Wife to Robert. Founder of Flexible Being. A Master Reiki Therapist, Certified Oracle Guide, Spiritual Mentor/Guide, Intuitive Empath, Coach, and Educator. I am a fur mom to 3 cats and 1 dog – Sonny, Patches, Ryelee, and Winnie. We currently live and practice in Stockton, California. We operate three businesses – Shapiro Holistic Health and Chiropractic, Fusion Health APC, and Synergy Health MSO, where we seek to improve and change the lives of our patients and those we have the privilege of crossing paths with. My healing and mentoring journey began around 5 years old when I discovered that I was put on this planet to help others. I knew I was different, unique, and gifted. I did not see the world the same way everyone else did, and recognized I was meant to do so much more. I began to research, spending a lot of time reading & asking a lot of questions to anyone that wanted to share stories about their life experiences. I am a dreamer and had a unique relationship with the dream world. My very real, vivid & lucid dreams began turning into out-of-body experiences and unexplained occurrences. I began doing my own dream interpretations to look for patterns & a new way of deciphering life. Family members were part of many different religions, so I was educated in Catholicism, Buddhism, Metaphysics, and Native American culture & beliefs. Along the way, I took up multiple mentors that cultivated my growth and expansion of my gifts, allowing me to focus on my potential and purpose. As an adult, coworkers were unloading their life stories, internal secrets, and things that had not been shared or even spoken out loud. I began to share those experiences with my aunt & Reiki Master/Teacher, Carmen. In 2012, Carmen told me, “I think you are ready to walk the path I always knew you were meant to walk”. That saying began my obsessive journey into Reiki, Spirituality, Psychology, Intuition and Psychic gifts, Meditation and Mindfulness, Past Lives, Consciousness, Energy Medicine, Mysteries of the Universe, Moon and Sun cycles, Astrology, Numerology, Oracle Cards, Shamanism, & so much more. My journey has helped me to assist patients, clients, families, and friends discover who they have been, who they are, and who they want to become. I am expanding my reach and educating others by authoring Musings of a Flexible Being, and I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Thank you! Theresa Martinez-Shapiro Flexible Being Website: www.flexiblebeing.com Socials: Facebook: @flexiblebeingonline Instagram:@theresamartinezshapiro Instagram: @flexiblebeing
