# Hit It Back: A Lesson in Playfulness & Seizing the Moment

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818/hit-it-back-a-lesson-in-playfulness-seizing-the-moment
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818/hit-it-back-a-lesson-in-playfulness-seizing-the-moment.md
Podcast: [Stuck Not Broken](https://stenobird.com/podcast/stuck-not-broken-765818)
Published: 2026-01-16T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.stucknotbroken.com
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/368978f3-48dc-4267-a919-f849c19cc463.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/stuck-not-broken-765818/episodes/hit-it-back-a-lesson-in-playfulness-seizing-the-moment
Duration seconds: 356

## Resource

A balloon floated down from the hotel ceiling. My son said, "Hit it back." I was sitting on a bench, quietly processing—reflecting on a loud, joyful Italian family reunion the night before, thinking about my upbringing, the conversations with my brothers, how my wife and I are raising our own kids. I wanted to stay in that quiet space. But then a wave of irritation hit me. And in that fraction of a second before the balloon touched my head, a thought arrived: This moment may never happen again. In this episode, I share a simple story from a family trip to San Jose—and what it taught me about: Recognizing when we shift out of safety and into fight or flight The quiet power of playfulness as a pathway back to connection Why seizing small moments matters more than we think This isn't about grand gestures or life-changing epiphanies. It's about a balloon, a 10-year-old boy, and the choice to hit it back. Consider this as me hitting a balloon to you. 🎈 🌸 Not sure which stuck state you're in? Recognize where you're at and join the free community here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/stuck?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=stuck-page It helps you recognize your state. It never tells you what you are. No quiz, no verdict, no card. 🤩 Ready to go deeper? Explore resources at every price point here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/how-i-can-help-you?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=how-i-can-help 🙂 Don't know the Polyvagal Theory? Catch up here - https://player.captivate.fm/collection/cce134e7-1550-4d33-8e56-738d344c63b0 This and other content produced by Justin Sunseri (“JustinLMFT”) (i.e; podcast, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) is not therapy, not intended to be therapy or be a replacement for therapy.  Nothing in this creates or i…

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## Transcript

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