An Invitation to Play


Permission to Play

August 2026

As an adult, do you play the same way you played as a kid?

When did you last play? …not for or with your kids, or in the way somebody else likes to play, but

  • unabashedly your own,
  • joy-filled,
  • no-obligation,
  • time flies play.

When did you last do that?

What did it look and feel like?

What if you could do that more often?

I developed Permission to Play because I kept hearing adults say they didn’t have time, they didn’t really know how they played any more, or they were simply too stressed. And yet, in a state of play, we better recover from stress, we form deeper connections, we find new paths forward - the very things we most need when times feel hard.

As adults, we somehow often need mental permission to break from the obligations and expectations of adulthood. So this is your permission.

One of the fun things about doing this book campaign, is I get to offer opportunities with play, and this cohort is one of my favorites. Permission to Play is a six-week cohort program, complete with gifts, instruction, and opportunity to learn. We’ll explore what different play styles look and feel like to help you discover your unique play personality. And we’ll be explicit about how to use that knowledge in work so you don’t have to leave it on the sidelines.

Who do you know who needs permission to play?

Permission to Play offers prompts, tools, knowledge and structures to best discover and cultivate the character of your unique play. Your registration includes a Play Portrait Workshop on your choice of October 7th or 15th, followed by synchronous and asynchronous gatherings that run October 30 to December 11 and include:

  • Applying the revised play style approach from the National Institute for Play
  • A taste of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™
  • A mid-day, mid-week re-calibration
  • Saturday Morning Cartoons
  • Friday Reflections
  • Morning Celebrations
  • Chasing the Sunday Blues

The price for 2 months of inspiration is the same as it was last time I offered Permission to Play ($625), but because registrations are through the Book Campaign, participants in this cohort will also

  • receive a physical copy of my book when it releases next year
  • be invited to additional gatherings around play as a leadership skill
  • have your name included in the book itself
  • AND SPECIAL TO MY EMAIL LIST: receive a Permission to Play pouch in your preferred color

Give yourself Permission to Play, or gift it to a friend.

If you want to do both, contact me, I can set up a special perk for you that gives you a discount. Play is more fun with friends!

Send me a reply if you want to talk first. I’m happy to answer all your questions.

Looking forward to adding your name to my inner play circle,

Mary

7845 Westside Dr. #152, San Diego, CA 92108
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Mary Hendra

Mary Hendra brings curiosity, creativity, and compassion to individuals and teams through Move with Grace. Redefining “play” for the modern, busy adult, her workshops and cohort programs foster self-reflection and build clarity so that you can take action.

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