Making Space for Rest
Healing through play without guilt, shame or fear
There are very few spaces that I automatically feel really safe in because of various security measures implemented to prevent the mostly unlikely of scenarios anxiously circling in my mind. The airport is one of these places. My parent’s backyard is another.
A summer camp in the swamps of Florida is the newest addition to my list of safe spaces.
Earlier this month, my job granted me the opportunity to volunteer at a summer camp for children with serious medical illnesses. I spent five days as a camp counselor to nine 13 and 14 year old girls, and it was the most rewarding experience of my life, no exaggeration.
In a sanctuary for children in the wetlands of Florida, rest and play commence. There’s little to no cell service. My iPhone was used solely for keeping time. Each day, the itinerary is filled with endless activities. Archery, swimming, woodshop, golf, arts & crafts, theatre, horseback riding, fishing, (just to name a few!) as well as time and space moments of rest. When we aren’t out at an activity, we’re enjoying downtime in the cabin. They could do whatever they wanted, with an incredible team of staff, volunteers and medical professionals ready to support.
The art of play is truly so healing. Initially, I showed up to this camp, not knowing anyone, wanting to volunteer my time to care for the youth of today, and then go back to my normal life the following week. By the end of the five days, those kids left a lasting impression on me that I will never forget. They really just need people to listen to them, and a safe space to thrive.
At first the kids were kind of a lot!! There were over 100 (!) campers; apparently one of the largest sessions the camp has had. There were so many sounds, noises, and individual needs to remember and be mindful of. So many new team chants and songs to learn. I’m not gonna lie, I was crazy overstimulated the first day of camp and truly questioned if I was cut out to support these kids in the way they needed. But by the end, I knew the experience I had at camp was not only healing for them, but for me as well.
By day three I was crying at any and everything. Shedding tears of immense joy for the most innocent of souls. I was proud of someone who tried something new for the first time, someone who faced a fear, someone who made a new friend.
One of my favorite memories was the night we surprised the campers with a stargazing party. Imagine, 20something 13 and 14 year old girls, up waaaay past their bedtime, on a party bus, with disco lights, in pajamas, with our favorite blankets and stuffies, while Justin Bieber’s “Baby” echoes through the speakers. Everyone’s giggling and singing at the top of their lungs, counselors included!
So why am I crying on the party bus??
Because in that moment, everything was so pure, so incredibly magical. These girls were super shy when they first met. Some of them worried they wouldn’t be able to make a friend at camp. But now they’re all super close and connected, laughing and singing together, not worried about their ailments and disorders, or their lives outside of this camp bubble, but just enjoying the present. Right here, right now.
And at that moment, a few weeks shy of my 31st birthday, I remembered that I was once fourteen years old, singing Justin Bieber’s “Baby” with my friends. It was a full circle moment. This is what it’s all about! This is girlhood! A shared connection and the literal power of friendship. It was so beautiful. Stargazing was beautiful. We laughed, we joked, we shared our dreams and thoughts and feelings, welcoming rest with open arms.
