Yesterday, Ben and I had the amazing privilege of meeting Reginald, the owner of Ravenswood Leather in Medford, OR. I had visited them the day before and seen the knights helmets, the leather gear, the bows and arrows, and pirate stuff and thought this would be the kind of store Ben would get a kick out of seeing. Also, I’d told them that he has made his own Iron Man suit out of metal, and the staff asked me to have him bring it down for them to admire.

They took a picture of Ben in his suit in the middle of their store. Talk about a big moment for Ben!

Then Reginald said to follow him, and he took us back into the workshop and showed us the tools and machines they use to cut leather, shape it, put holes in it, put clasps and ties into it to make garments and belts. He showed us the various patterns hanging on the walls that when pushed into the leather, cut out a gorgeous shape that can be sewn onto another piece to give it depth and design. He showed us how he arranged these pieces one on top of another to make the Chamfron – the leather face protector for a war horse.

As Reginald was showing us how he designs what he makes, he turned to Ben and said, “This is what I do all day. I just play!” Ben’s eyes lit up in recognition of another artist so absorbed in his work that it becomes play.

Someday Ben will grow up and get a job. I just hope all of his artistic energy gets a place to be channeled. I hope that the experiences we share with him while he is young, instill in him such a love of creativity that he is able to find work that is joyful and fulfilling to him.

Yesterday afternoon when I was driving to a client visit, I heard a Brandi Carlile song on the radio that talked about not trading in your tic-tac box for a ball on the end of a chain.

“Keep Your Heart Young”

Playfulness in life, in work, in art and creation, in song, in love, in family, in marriage seems to be the key to what keeps us all young and joyful. We can grow and learn so much more when our base and foundation is delight!