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Hi! Creator of Power Play™|Resilience & Play Specialist

Grown-up-go-getters, ready to feel alive? Join the 7-Day Play Challenge: Revive Levity & Take Life Less Seriously 💫 👉 https://www.ashleydepaulis.com/

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The playful wisdom I brought home from Italy 🇮🇹

Reader, When I was in Italy, I learned a phrase from our tour guide that instantly hooked me:"Tutto bene ma niente in ordine."Translation: All good, but nothing in order. ✨ Isn’t that the truest description of life sometimes? Nothing is tidy, but everything is good. I stood in Vernazza, taking in the colorful houses climbing up the hillside. They weren’t symmetrical or perfectly arranged—as you can see they are a little crooked, painted in every shade. That’s exactly what made them so alive,...

Ciao, Reader! I’m zipping up my suitcase and getting ready to head to Italy. I fully plan to indulge in pasta, pizza, and plenty of play. 😍 Travel, for me, is one of the best forms of play. It wakes up my senses, pulls me out of routine, and reminds me that joy lives in the little discoveries along the way. Here’s what I’ve packed (beyond comfy shoes): Curiosity (fits in any carry-on) Joy (no baggage fees) Playfulness (always in season) And the best part? You don’t have to fly overseas to...

Power isn’t something you claim, it’s something you become. This shift in perspective matters because when you try to “claim” power only in your mind, it can feel like pushing, forcing, or performing.But when you embody power, your whole system gets on board—your breath, posture, and even your presence. Your body is always dropping hints about where you’re aligned and where you’re resisting, Reader. Light, open, grounded = alignment Tight, heavy, clenched = resistance Neither is good or bad....

Something came up in conversation this week that got me thinking… and I figured you might relate, Reader. I was telling a friend how fun it was to make a last-minute decision to see The Lumineers. I’d been wanting to go, but I kept waiting to see if everything would fall into place — or, if I’m honest, to convince myself it was worth the hassle. You know, all the adult reasons not to go. Eventually, I just said to myself, Life is happening now. Go live it.Because otherwise? Life starts to...

A sliced lemon with green leaves on white.

I just celebrated my birthday, and true to my wanderer soul, I chased every playful whim, Reader. There was a vintage roller coaster, a saltwater soak in the mountains, and frolicking through Boulder with Italian food and a spark of spontaneity. It reminded me how energizing it is to choose play — even in the in-between, imperfect, or unpredictable moments. If you caught my last message, I talked about breaking out of your perception box — that mental framework that quietly shapes how you...

Motorcycle carrying large cardboard boxes on city street

We all carry invisible boxes, Reader.Boxes shaped by what we’ve been taught are “professional,” “productive,” or “realistic.” Boxes that quietly tell us to stay small, stay serious, stay safe. A few weeks ago at Playposium 2025, I spent time with people who are actively breaking out of those boxes—through laughter, movement, storytelling, and play. One of my biggest takeaways?I learned I have play limits, especially when I’m tired.So I stepped back. I rested. I honored what I needed. That...

Skateboarder flips upside down mid-air at skatepark.

Life can get so heavy, can’t it Reader?You're like, DUH 🙄 Between managing responsibilities, navigating challenges, and trying to keep everything together, it’s easy to forget one essential truth: you’re allowed to enjoy life. And what better day to remind ourselves of that than today — the International Day of Play! 🎉✨ Joy isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity, especially when the world is melting. 🫠 Science shows that play lowers stress, sparks creativity, and strengthens resilience. Play fuels...

For the longest time, I believed resilience meant powering through. Do you relate to being unshakeable, stoic, or tough, Reader?Over time, I realized real resilience is more like a dance than a march.It’s not about brute strength. It’s about bounce.It’s about curiosity. Flexibility. And yes… even playfulness. Here’s a reminder that always makes me smile:You can’t spell resilience without “sili.” Not silly in a dismissive way—but silly as in light-hearted and free. It’s about finding joy, even...

When was the last time you played, Reader?Like, truly let go and had fun without a purpose or outcome in mind?I’m fresh off attending the National Conference on the Value of Play last week, and let me tell you—I played my heart out and had an absolute blast! Most of my days aren’t as play-filled as that, but that’s not the point.For many of us, “play” feels like a distant memory, something we left behind in childhood.But here’s the thing: play isn’t just for kids—it’s a biological need for...

Let’s talk about stress, Reader. If you’re an ambitious professional, you probably know stress well. It’s that tightness in your chest before a big meeting, the racing mind at 2 a.m., or the nagging thought that you’ll never “do enough.” But here’s the truth: stress isn’t your enemy. It’s a signal—your body’s way of saying, “Hey, I need attention.” For years, I thought the answer to stress was to push harder, do more, and ignore the signs. But that only led to burnout. What changed everything...