What is it about playing hooky that is so delightful?

When I was a kid, my mother would periodically let me stay home from school just because.  She could tell when my energy was low and I needed a break from the drudgery of school.  I would sleep in, dangle my feet in the creek, climb trees, eat grilled cheese sandwiches and watch afternoon cartoons. Growing up in Tampa, hooky days during high school usually meant skipping school for the beach.  It was magical to listen to the waves when I knew I was supposed to be in class listening to my high school biology teacher talk about mitochondria.

When my son was young, he instinctively knew when he needed a break, and like my mother, I honored his knowingness. But as adults, we don’t often allow ourselves the luxury of playing hooky. After all, it’s not the mature thing to do. We have so many responsibilities.

You can call it what you want: A retreat, a day off, a week off, a year off, but playing hooky is profound. It re-energizes our hearts and souls and affirms our internal daydreamer, wanderer, poet and artist. It allows us to play without responsibility, be creative (or lazy), and say ‘yes’ to our soul with compassion and trust. It is a reset from the universe.   When I picked up and moved across the country, I allowed myself plenty of hooky time.  It didn’t help my finances, but it did help support me in the transition to my new life.

I have friends who are retiring this year, and some who have recently retired.   Please, go play hooky to your heart’s content.

Life is precious and fleeting. We don’t have that many years to leave our footprints in the sand, breathe in the ocean air, or take an afternoon off to go hiking. Plan not to miss a single moment.  You know deep down inside when you need a hooky day.

“I Wanna Play Hooky”, words and music by Casey Conerly, written one afternoon playing hooky.