Permission to Play

Recently, we did something radical. We took ourselves less seriously.

We had a photo shoot scheduled—something that, in the past, might have made us feel the need to “show up” in all the ways women often feel they must: polished, composed, camera-ready, professional. But this time, we didn’t reach for perfection. We reached for fun. We danced. We made ridiculous faces. We laughed so hard we cried. And somewhere in the midst of it all, we realized: this is the work, too.

At The Rewrite Workshops, we talk a lot about transformation. We guide people through the process of rewriting personal narratives—those invisible stories we tell ourselves about who we are, what we’re worth, and what’s possible for us. Often, those stories are heavy, and the work of unpacking them can be heavy, too.

But there’s also space for lightness. There has to be. Joy, silliness, laughter—these aren’t just welcome. They’re essential. Because the truth is, many of us have inherited a story that says play is frivolous. That joy should be reserved for after the work is done. That if we want to be taken seriously, we can’t let people see us being goofy or spontaneous or weird.

But healing doesn’t always have to be solemn. Empowerment doesn’t always have to be a hard-won battle. Sometimes, healing looks like laughing until your stomach hurts.

Sometimes, rewriting your story means realizing you don’t need to prove anything to anyone—least of all to yourself. So this week, we’re giving ourselves permission to play. To be silly. To be light. To feel free.

And we’re extending that permission to you, too. Write something just for fun. Wear the outfit that makes you feel like a little kid. Sing terribly and loudly. Dance in the kitchen while dinner burns. Post the photo where you’re laughing too hard to care about your chin angle. Let yourself be a little ridiculous. A little free. A little wild because play is not a distraction from the “real” work.

It is the work.

With laughter, joy, and a little bit of glitter,

Penny and Ria