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

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. 🎈 🤩 Ready to go deeper? Explore resources at every price point—from free content to 1-on-1 coaching. Whether you're just beginning or ready for transformation, there's something designed for where you are right now. 👉 Visit 😬 Need to catch up? Listen to the Polyvagal 101 audio series - ✅ Crisis resources: National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1 (800) 273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline -1 (800) 799-7233 LGBT Trevor Project Lifeline - 1 (866) 488-7386 National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1 (800) 656-4673 Crisis Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741741 Call 911 for emergency 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 indicates a therapeutic relationship. Please consult with your therapist or seek for one in your area if you are experiencing mental health symptoms. Nothing should be construed to be specific life advice; it is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Justin Sunseri is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist registered in the State of California (#99147). Don't forget to

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Hit It Back: A Lesson in Playfulness & Seizing the Moment is an episode from Stuck Not Broken by Justin Sunseri.

This episode is 05:12 long.

This episode was published on Jan 16, 2026.

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