We are taught life must be taken seriously; life is a struggle and that anything we do in life, including our spiritual work must be work. We have been conditioned by society to go along with these teachings and live our lives with these beliefs.

The dictionary defines play as "light, free and unencumbered". In letting go of our old beliefs and conditioning, we are learning that we have choices to empower ourselves: We are learning to free ourselves in lightness without being encumbered. We have the power to improve the quality of our lives with this in mind.

If we are all part of the Higher Power's creation, you have only to observe a little child romping and playing freely in the grass, the kitten frolicking and rolling while playing with a ball of yarn, and a puppy wagging his tail chewing on a bone. This is what life is suppose to be about. Living freely in the moment, with faith and acceptance, in play without dwelling on the past and worrying in fear about the future...being light, free, and unencumbered in the present moment.

A "Play" can also be defined as a theatrical work in which one plays a part or role. Life can also be considered a play. In your life you are the writer, the director, the producer and the actor(s). A dear friend, Harvey Cohen always reminds me that "Life is a play. We are making it up as we go along, so it might as well be magnificent."

So I ask you. "Are you having fun yet?"

It is time to wake up and recognize those faulty, habitual thought patterns, beliefs and conditioning that you have permitted to rule your life.

Sit quietly with yourself and still your thoughts. Breathe in love and light on each inhale and on each exhale breathe out all your worries, your fears, your doubts and concerns, knowing that when you come back from this exercise, you will see your life more clearly. Relax your muscles from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Tense your toes and relax them. Tense your feet and relax them. Gently move through every part of your body tensing and relaxing them until you are able to take your thoughts off any area which is holding stress and your attention.

This exercise is about allowing yourself to reflect on experiences in your life where you felt utter joy, laughter and freeness from within. It will reveal those good feelings to you once again. It may be your experience of seeing the birth of a new born baby; it may be from feeling the oneness with God or the Higher Power; it may be the heartfelt connection that you feel when your heart becomes open when you read or hear words that inspire you or open you to the true nature of yourself; it may be as simple as the feeling you experience when you meet someone for the first time and it seems as if you have known them forever. These are the times when you were free. These are the times you want to remember to catapult you towards living your life freely with empowerment.

No one can do this for you. You must go within to experience what is right for yourself. It is being responsible for yourself, for your life and your experiences. This is all about your choices. Think of all the thoughts you dwell on throughout your day. "I have no money." "I'm depressed" "I have no life". Ponder on all the thoughts that you focus on and look at how your life reflects your thoughts. You put so much energy into the negatives. To break this habitual thought process, you will have to make a commitment to yourself to catch yourself, perhaps even laugh at yourself when these patterns arise. You can think to yourself as you catch them, "I now cancel these negative thoughts " and choose a positive thought to replace it. Make it fun; don't beat yourself up.

Blaming another for your present experience and situation is not what it is about either. You are all in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason. You just have to understand that you may not be seeing the total picture that the Higher Power has in store for you.

However, in taking responsibility and making choices to shift your perceptions, your attitudes and beliefs, you will find that you are on the road towards a more joyful, light and playful life's journey of wonderful miracles. When you look at a cup that is filled to the middle, you will not see it as half empty, but embrace it as half full. Trusting and having faith in your Higher Power with the knowingness that you are united as one with everything in and of this Universe, will open your hearts to a more fully enriched life.